Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 90009 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90009 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
I laugh—the first real one in what feels like forever—as I slide into the empty chair they’ve saved for me. “Thanks for the offers, but no sabotage necessary.”
“For now,” Rina says darkly, sipping her latte.
Callie nudges a plate across the table. It’s got my favorite on it. A warm almond croissant drizzled with just the right amount of glaze. “Eat first. Plot second.”
I blink against the sudden sting in my eyes. “I don’t know what I’d do without you all.”
“Good thing you’ll never have to find out,” Sloane says, flashing a grin.
I break off a piece of croissant, more to keep my hands busy than because I’m actually hungry. “I’m still in shock.”
“No one can blame you for that,” Callie says gently. “What you walked in on was awful.”
I take in the rich, buttery scent of the pastry, letting it settle something inside me. “I never thought he would betray me like that.”
“Bastard,” Rina mutters, slamming her cup down harder than necessary.
“Yeah.” I let out a hollow laugh. “And the worst part? Turns out I wasn’t just cheated on, I was cheated out of better sex too.”
Three sets of eyes blink at me before Rina lets out a loud, unfiltered laugh. “Well, damn. Tell us how you really feel.”
Callie presses her lips together trying, and failing, not to smile. “I’m guessing that kind of enthusiasm wasn’t something you saw from him?”
“Not even close.” I take a sip of coffee. “Honestly? Seeing him like that made me realize I never really knew him at all.”
Sloane leans forward, her green eyes sharp. “That’s not on you. That’s on him. It’s a choice he made.”
Rina nods, her expression fierce. “Exactly. You’re incredible. If he couldn’t see that, it’s his loss. Don’t you dare think otherwise.”
Callie reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. “And it sounds like it wasn’t just about the cheating. It was everything.”
“Yeah.” I swirl my cup slowly. “I think I was trying to live a life that looked good on paper. Devon. The job. The apartment. It all made sense. But I don’t think any of it ever really made me happy.”
Sloane’s smile softens. “Sometimes it takes everything falling apart to figure out what we actually want.”
“And what do you want, Lilah?” Callie asks quietly.
I open my mouth before closing it again. “I don’t know. Yet.” And for the first time in my life, that uncertainty doesn’t terrify me. “I’m figuring it out. One croissant at a time.”
They all smile at that. It’s not a huge moment. It’s not a parade or some grand epiphany.
But it’s a start.
A step forward.
I glance around the table at these women who have been there for me without hesitation.
No judgment.
No conditions.
Just love.
Maybe that’s what I need more of in my life.
People who show up.
People who stay.
Like them.
And Steele.
His face flashes in my mind. His slightly crooked smile, the way he smells like spice and cedar, the quiet strength in his touch. The way he makes me feel like I’m not standing on crumbling ground anymore.
A slow warmth blooms inside me, chasing away some of the heaviness.
Maybe I don’t have everything figured out yet.
But then again, maybe I don’t need to.
All I have to do is take the next step.
And then another.
One heartbeat.
One choice.
One small leap of faith at a time.
And if I’m lucky, I’ll find something better waiting for me on the other side.
6
STEELE
Itake the last gulp of my protein shake and grimace. It’s thick, chalky, and tastes vaguely like artificial vanilla.
Behind me, footsteps pad into the kitchen.
“What’s in that?” Lilah asks, her voice husky from sleep.
I turn and shake the nearly-empty bottle. “Let’s see… protein powder, almond milk, half a banana, creatine, and some other stuff I probably can’t pronounce.”
She walks over, plucks the container from the counter, and frowns down at the label. “This has more chemicals than a science lab.”
I shrug, rinsing the shaker out in the sink. “It gets the job done.”
“Barely,” she mutters, turning the tub around. “You’re a professional athlete. You should be more careful about what you put into your body.”
I arch a brow. “Are you offering to be my nutritionist now, lucky charm?”
She glances up, lips twitching. “Well, apparently I’m your new assistant. And it’s the least I can do. I’ll start making smoothies for you.”
I blink. “You know how to make smoothies?”
She shrugs. “I’ve been playing around with recipes. I like them after workouts. They make me feel more balanced.”
I lean against the counter, watching her pull her hair into a messy knot, her eyes scanning the kitchen like she’s already cataloging potential ingredients. There’s a lightness in her voice that hasn’t been there in days, and I’d do just about anything to keep it there.
“You know,” I say, “if you keep this up, you’re gonna ruin me for my usual post-practice sludge.”
She smirks. “You’re welcome.”