Do you? My daughter asks me every day if I'm happy. She's 8 years old and she thinks it's her job to monitor my mental health. That's not fair to her, but I don't know how to stop it. Viven's expression softened.
You have a daughter, Sophie. She's with my sister tonight. Sarah set up this whole blind date thing because she thinks I need to start living again, whatever that means. And are you happy? Ethan considered the question honestly.
I'm surviving. Some days that feels like the same thing. They sat with that for a moment. The diner's fluorescent lights humming overhead. Rain still hammering the windows.
Two people who'd stumbled into each other by accident. Sitting in a grimy booth, eating burgers and telling the truth for maybe the first time in months. What happened to your wife? Viven asked quietly. Left 3 years ago.
Met someone with better prospects and fewer late night phone calls about broken down cars. He didn't say it with bitterness, just fact. She sends Sophie birthday cards. That's about it. I'm sorry.
Don't be. We were wrong for each other from the start. I just didn't want to admit it. Vivian nodded slowly. I was engaged once, called it off 6 weeks before the wedding.
What happened? He told me I'd have to choose between the company and him. She smiled, but there was no humor in it. He was very surprised when I chose the company. Was it the right choice?
Some days I think so. Other days I sit in empty pen houses and wonder what I'm building this empire for. The waitress returned to refill their coffee, and they sat in silence again. Outside, a car horn blared. Someone laughed.
The city continued spinning, oblivious to two people sitting in a diner at 11:30 at night, discovering that maybe they weren't as alone as they'd thought. So, what now? Ethan asked finally. Vivien looked at him over the rim of her coffee mug. What do you mean?
I mean, you're Vivien Hart. You run an empire. I can barely keep my repair shop open. This doesn't make sense. Since when do things have to make sense?
Since always, that's that's how life works. That's how life works for people who are afraid to try something different. She set down her mug. I spent an hour stranded in the rain tonight. A stranger stopped to help me.
He fixed my car. He didn't ask for anything. And when I tried to thank him, he disappeared. And then I found out that stranger was supposed to be my blind date. Except we both screwed it up by actually being decent people.
I'm not sure decent is the word. It's exactly the word. Vivien leaned forward. Do you know how many people would have driven past me tonight, seen an expensive car, assumed I had it handled, kept going, but you stopped. You got soaking wet.