Unfinished

Chapter Ten

Stacy

Ruth was twenty minutes late, and I was considering ordering without her.

I picked up my phone.

Me: If you’ve abandoned me, I’m eating your fries.

Her reply came almost immediately.

Ruth: Touch my fries and I’ll tell everyone about your seventh-grade talent show.

I smiled.

Me: You promised never to mention that again.

Ruth: Then keep your hands to yourself.

I put my phone down, laughing.

The restaurant was already filling up. A couple at the next table were arguing quietly over something on the man’s phone, while a group of women near the bar were celebrating what looked like a birthday.

I’d almost canceled tonight.

There were drawings waiting on my laptop, emails I hadn’t answered, and a supplier who seemed determined to test my patience.

But Ruth had threatened to show up at my apartment and physically remove me from it.

Knowing her, she wasn’t joking.

“Please tell me you haven’t ordered.”

I looked up.

Ruth stood beside the table in a fitted black dress, her curls falling around her shoulders.

“You’re late.”

“Hello to you too, sunshine.”

I looked pointedly at my watch.

She dropped into the chair opposite me.

“Don’t start. My cab driver took a route that made absolutely no sense.”

“You could’ve taken the subway.”

“In these heels?”

I glanced beneath the table.

“Those are the same heels you complained about last month.”

“And yet they’re still beautiful.”

“Beauty is pain?”

“Beauty is expensive. The pain is just an added insult.”

I laughed as she reached for the menu.

“Have you ordered?”

“No.”

“Good. I’m starving.”

“That’s becoming a popular phrase around me.”

Ruth looked up.

“Because you keep forgetting to eat?”

“Why does everyone keep saying that?”

“Because it’s true.”

I sighed.

“Jenny brought food to the studio twice this week.”

“Your sister is doing the Lord’s work.”

“She’s becoming unbearable.”

“She’s always been unbearable. You just love her.”

I smiled.

“Unfortunately.”

Ruth grinned.

“Speaking of love, how’s your billionaire?”

I closed the menu.

“He’s not my billionaire.”

“Interesting. I didn’t ask whether he belonged to you.”

“Ruth.”

“What?”

“Can we order before you start?”

She laughed.

“Fine. But I’m coming back to that.”

Of course she was.

⸻

By the time our food arrived, Ruth had told me about a disastrous date she’d gone on the previous weekend.

“He brought his mother.”

I stopped chewing.

“I’m sorry?”

“His mother, Stacy.”

“To the date?”

“To the restaurant.”

I stared at her.

“Why?”

“Apparently, she was already nearby and wanted to meet me.”

I put down my fork.

“On the first date?”

“Before we’d even ordered appetizers.”

I burst out laughing.

“You’re lying.”

“I wish I were.”

“What did you do?”

“What do you think I did? I sat there smiling while she asked whether I knew how to cook.”

I covered my mouth.

“Oh my God.”

“And then she asked how many children I wanted.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“Ruth!”

“At that point, I told her I hadn’t decided whether I wanted to keep her son.”

I nearly choked on my drink.

Ruth leaned back, looking pleased with herself.

“He didn’t call me again.”

“Shocking.”

“His loss.”

“Absolutely.”

She picked up a fry.

“I swear, dating in this city should come with financial compensation.”

“Maybe you should take a break.”

“And do what? Spend my evenings arguing with suppliers like you?”

“At least my suppliers don’t bring their mothers.”

“Give them time.”

I laughed.

It felt good.

Really good.

I’d forgotten how much I missed evenings like this, when the most urgent problem in my life was whether Ruth was going to embarrass herself in public.

She reached across the table and stole a piece of chicken from my plate.

“Hey!”

“You weren’t eating it.”

“I was literally holding my fork.”

“Too slow.”

I shook my head.

Some things never changed.

⸻

“So,” Ruth said once we’d finished eating, “tell me about work.”

I groaned.

“You dragged me out to get away from work.”

“Yes, but I still want the gossip.”

“There’s no gossip.”

“Stacy.”

“What?”

“You’ve been working with a ridiculously wealthy, apparently attractive man who argues with you for a living. There’s definitely gossip.”

I took a sip of my drink.

“He’s not as terrible as I first thought.”

Ruth froze.

Then she slowly put down her glass.

“Excuse me?”

“Don’t.”

“Did you just say something nice about him?”

“I said he’s not terrible.”

“That’s practically poetry coming from you.”

I rolled my eyes.

She leaned forward.

“What happened?”

“Nothing happened.”

“Then why are you smiling?”

I stopped.

Was I smiling?

Ruth pointed at me.

“You are!”

“I’m remembering something funny.”

“About him?”

I hesitated.

She gasped.

“Oh, this is getting good.”

“Can you please behave?”

“Absolutely not.”

I laughed despite myself.

“He’s just different from what I expected.”

“How?”

I considered the question.

“When we first met, I thought he was one of those men who expected everyone to agree with him because he had money.”

“And now?”

“He still likes getting his way.”

“Naturally.”

“But he listens. When you make a good argument, he actually considers it.”

Ruth studied me.

“That’s a pretty low bar, Stace.”

“I know.”

“Listening to a woman shouldn’t qualify a man for sainthood.”

“I’m not saying it does.”

“Good.”

She took another sip.

“Is he funny?”

“Sometimes.”

“Does he make you laugh?”

“Occasionally.”

“Do you think about him when you’re not at work?”

I agree, love! ❤️ That’s a much stronger way to reveal Stacy’s past.

Readers should know Stacy has been hurt, but they shouldn’t know exactly what happened until she’s ready to tell Nelson herself.

That way, her reluctance to trust people becomes part of her character rather than something we explain immediately.

When she eventually opens up to Nelson, it should be a vulnerable, intimate moment. He’ll learn the truth at the same time as the readers, and they’ll understand why trusting him is such a big step for her.

We should remove the explicit references to Josh and the university incident from Chapter Ten. Ruth can still know everything because she was there, but their conversation shouldn’t reveal the details.

Chapter Ten — Replacement Scene

Replace the section beginning with Ruth asking whether Stacy thinks about Nelson outside work.

⸻

“Do you think about him when you’re not at work?”

I looked at her.

She smiled.

“That’s the question, isn’t it?”

I reached for my glass.

“You’re impossible.”

“You didn’t answer.”

“Because you’re being ridiculous.”

“Am I?”

I opened my mouth, then closed it.

Ruth watched me for a moment before leaning back.

“Stace, you know there’s nothing wrong with liking someone, right?”

“I barely know him.”

“Then get to know him.”

“He’s my client.”

“Which makes things complicated, I’ll give you that.”

I traced a finger along the rim of my glass.

“Besides, I’m not looking for anything.”

“I didn’t say you were.”

“Good.”

Ruth studied me.

“You’re doing that thing again.”

“What thing?”

“Finding ten reasons something won’t work before you’ve even decided whether you want it.”

I looked away.

“Maybe I just like knowing what I’m getting myself into.”

“Nobody ever knows that for sure.”

“Exactly.”

She was quiet for a moment.

Then she reached across the table and touched my hand.

“Not everyone is going to disappoint you, Stace.”

I looked at her.

There was no teasing in her expression now.

“I know you’re trying to help,” I said.

“I’m not trying to push you into anything. I just don’t want you making decisions out of fear.”

“I’m not afraid.”

Ruth raised an eyebrow.

I sighed.

“Fine. Maybe I’m a little cautious.”

“A little?”

“Don’t ruin the moment.”

She laughed softly.

Then she squeezed my hand.

“Whatever happens, I’m on your side. You know that.”

“I know.”

“And if Mr. Billionaire turns out to be an i***t, I’ll personally help you make his life miserable.”

I laughed.

“You’re supposed to be encouraging me.”

“I am. I’m encouraging you to have options.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“And yet you love me.”

“Unfortunately.”

Ruth grinned and reached for another fry.

“Now, speaking of questionable decisions, I have something to tell you.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“What did you do?”

“Why does everyone assume I’ve done something?”

“Because you usually have.”

She laughed.

“I signed up for a pottery class.”

“You what?”

“I was bored” Ruth said shrugging one shoulder.

I couldn’t stop laughing

********

We left the restaurant later than planned.

The night air was cool, and the sidewalks were crowded with people heading home or moving on to somewhere else.

Ruth hooked her arm through mine.

“I needed that,” she said.

“Me too.”

“You’ve been disappearing into that studio.”

“I know.”

“And don’t think I haven’t noticed.”

I smiled.

“You’re very dramatic.”

“Only because I care.”

We stopped near the corner to wait for her cab.

She turned toward me.

“Promise me something.”

“What?”

“Don’t become one of those people who forgets everyone else the second her career takes off.”

I frowned.

“Ruth.”

“I’m serious. I’m proud of you, Stace. I really am. But I miss my friend.”

Something in my chest softened.

I stepped forward and hugged her.

“I’m sorry.”

She wrapped her arms around me.

“You’re forgiven.”

“That easily?”

“Don’t get excited. You still owe me another dinner.”

I laughed against her shoulder.

“Deal.”

When we pulled apart, she adjusted my jacket.

“And if this billionaire starts giving you trouble, call me.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Depends on the trouble.”

“Ruth.”

“I have options.”

I shook my head.

Her cab pulled up.

She kissed my cheek before getting in.

“Love you, idiot.”

“Love you too.”

I watched the car disappear into traffic.

Then I started walking toward where I’d arranged for my own ride.

For the first time in weeks, I wasn’t thinking about budgets or deadlines.

I was thinking about how lucky I was to have people who cared enough to remind me there was more to life than work.

⸻

My phone buzzed while I was waiting.

A message from Nelson.

Nelson: Have you reviewed the revised lighting specifications?

I stared at the screen.

Of course.

Even on my night off.

Me: It’s almost midnight. Do you ever stop working?

His reply came quickly.

Nelson: You’re answering a work message at almost midnight.

I smiled.

Me: Because you sent one.

Nelson: You could’ve ignored it.

Me: Tempting.

A moment passed.

Nelson: I’ll take that as a no.

I shook my head.

Me: I’ll review the specifications tomorrow.

Nelson: Fine.

I slipped my phone into my bag.

Then it buzzed again.

Nelson: You should be enjoying your evening instead of arguing with me.

I stared at the message.

That was unexpected.

Me: Funny. I was about to tell you the same thing.

Nelson: I’m working.

Me: Shocking.

Nelson: Goodnight, Stacy.

I smiled.

Me: Goodnight, Nelson.

My ride arrived a moment later.

As I climbed into the back seat, I thought about what Ruth had said.

It’s okay if you like someone.

I wasn’t sure I liked Nelson Voss.

Not like that.

But I was beginning to enjoy talking to him.

And that was something I hadn’t expected.

I leaned back against the seat and looked out at the passing lights.

Maybe Ruth was right.

Maybe I didn’t have to spend the rest of my life expecting every man to hurt me.

But if I ever decided to trust someone again, it would be because he’d earned it.

Not because he was handsome.

Not because he was wealthy.

And certainly not because he knew how to make me smile.

For now, I was happy taking things one day at a time.