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)
“Giving it a new home,” I say simply. “Looks pretty good there, don’t you think?”
Her eyes warm as her voice dips. “It does.”
She moves beside me, and for a long moment, we both stare at the photo. Her shoulder brushes mine, and there’s a shift in the air as emotion crackles just beneath the surface.
“You really were always there,” she murmurs. “Weren’t you?”
I glance at her. “Always.”
She gives me a small smile. It’s a little sad but stronger than before. After a beat, she bumps her hip against mine.
“Come on,” she says. “Let’s see what other blasts from the past we can dig up.”
I huff out a laugh as we turn back to the mess of cardboard and crumpled tissue paper. She’s still sorting through what’s hers, what’s worth keeping, and what’s already in the past.
And me?
I’m just here to make sure she doesn’t have to do it alone.
7
LILAH
Steele and I are nestled against each other on the couch as the television casts a warm, flickering glow across the room. We’ve somehow gotten sucked into a cooking competition, both pretending we don’t care while low-key rooting for opposite teams.
His arm is draped over the back of the cushions, fingers idly playing with a strand of my hair.
Over the past week, we’ve fallen into an easy and comfortable rhythm. For the first time since my life imploded, I feel like I’m going to be okay.
I’m knocked from those thoughts when my phone buzzes on the coffee table.
Mom.
With a groan, I flop back against the cushion. “Ugh. I was really hoping to avoid this convo for a few more days.”
Or, ideally, the rest of my life.
Steele glances at the screen and then at me. “You don’t have to answer it.”
“Yeah, I know,” I say, nibbling my lower lip. “But if I don’t, she’ll just keep calling. And texting. And emailing. If she figures out where I’ve been hiding, she’ll show up downstairs.”
Steele snorts. “We can give Tommy her photo and instructions to throw her out if she tries anything.”
That mental image has a laugh slipping out before I can stop it.
“We both know she’d file a formal complaint with the building association.”
Steele reaches over and gives my hand a squeeze. His thumb runs a slow circle over the back of it that’s both steady and grounding. “I’m right here, lucky charm.”
Even though the gesture is a simple one, it means everything.
This man is always there for me. Any time things fall apart, he’s the one standing by my side, holding the pieces with me. No matter how many times I tell myself it’s just who he is, it still makes my heart trip.
After steadying myself, I swipe to answer. “Hi, Mom. How are you?”
“Oh, Lilah,” she sighs. “Honestly? It’s been an absolute nightmare of a week. The dry cleaner ruined my favorite silk blouse, the neighbors are back at it with their construction, and your father’s golf swing—don’t even get me started. All those lessons with the country club pro, and he still can’t break ninety. Sometimes I have to wonder what we’re even doing with our lives.”
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.
“And we haven’t heard from you in weeks. Are you alive, darling? Or did you finally run off to join that cult in Oregon I warned you about?”
Across from me, Steele lifts a brow, clearly amused. I shoot him a glare and silently mouth, “Stop it.”
“I’m alive,” I say, keeping my voice even. “Just dealing with a few things.”
“Oh? What kind of things?”
That’s all it takes for my stomach to knot. Steele slides his hand into mine and gives it a gentle squeeze.
Here goes nothing.
“Devon and I broke up.”
There’s a pause followed by a sharp inhale. “What do you mean you broke up?”
“I mean exactly that. We ended things.”
“Lilah Jane,” she bites out, her displeasure slicing through the phone. “Fix it.”
My jaw drops. No matter what kind of response I was expecting, that wasn’t it.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me, young lady. Call him and apologize. Profusely, if necessary. Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s nothing that can’t be resolved. Do I need to remind you that Devon Peterson comes from a very respectable family?”
I blink, stunned by her reaction. “Mom, he cheated on me.”
There’s a brief silence and then a huff. “Well, men make mistakes. That doesn’t mean you throw away an entire relationship over a minor indiscretion.”
I glance at Steele and shake my head, unable to believe the words coming out of her mouth. His jaw is clenched, eyes burning like he’s one second away from grabbing the phone and telling Caroline Monroe exactly where she can go.
“Mom,” I say carefully, each word deliberate. “He’s having a baby with another woman. One of the associates at the firm.”
The silence that follows is deafening. It stretches long enough for my heart to start racing and my palms to turn slick. Steele’s hand settles on my back, warm and reassuring. It’s his silent way of telling me I’m not alone as well as nudging me to rip off the Band-Aid and get the rest out.