“Don’t,” I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper. “Just... don’t mention him.”
Corinne looks at me for a long moment before nodding, understanding flickering in her gaze. She doesn’t push, which is one of the things I appreciate most about her.
I close my eyes, taking a deep breath. I need to pull myself together. There’s no room for weakness here, not now. Not when everything feels like it’s hanging by a thread.
I look up at Corinne, my expression hardening. “I’ll be fine. It’s just... complicated.”
She doesn’t press further, thankfully. Instead, she stands, walks over to me, and places a hand on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze.
“I know it is. But you’re stronger than you think, Brit.”
I force a smile, though it doesn’t quite reach my eyes. “I know. I’ll figure it out.”
I turn back to my phone, scrolling aimlessly now, the noise of the world outside pressing in. I can hear the laughter of Corinne’s kids in the background—Kyle, all energy, and little Astrid, still so small and innocent. They’re running around, their giggles filling the space with a warmth that feels distant. I wish I could be more present for them, but right now, I’m stuck in my head, trapped by memories I can’t shake.
And then there’s the bracelet idea. I should be excited about it. I should be planning the launch, sketching designs, working on the next big thing. But everything feels heavy. The weight of my career, the weight of my past, the weight of the people around me—Jasper, Corinne, Ace... It’s all starting to blur together.
“Brittany?” Corinne’s voice cuts through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present.
I look up, meeting her gaze. “Yeah?”
“I know you’re processing a lot right now. But if you need anything, I’m here.”
Her words are simple, but they mean the world to me. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget that people care. That they’re here for you, no matter what. It’s easy to get lost in the noise of the world, to forget that there’s someone who’s always got your back.
I nod slowly, my throat tight again. “Thanks, Corinne. I need to hear that.”
The moment hangs between us, unspoken but understood. We don’t need to say more. The silence is comfortable now. It’s the kind of silence that comes after everything has been said, after all the words have been exhausted.
But deep down, I know that this—this balance, this quiet understanding—is what I need to move forward.
Chapter 28
Brittany
The apartment was quiet except for the soft gurgle of Astrid drinking her bottle in my arms. Kyle was already off at his friend’s house, and for the first time all day, I had a moment to breathe. My shoulders ached, my hair was a wild mess, and I was still in the same leggings and oversized tee I’d slept in. But the stillness felt good.
I caught sight of myself in the hallway mirror—hair tousled, cheeks flushed from wrangling two kids all morning. I gave a small, self-conscious laugh. This was my life now: Luxe Beauty boss by day, exhausted mom by night.
The door clicked open.
“Brittany, I’m back!” Corinne called as she stepped inside.
I turned just in time to see her enter, effortlessly stunning as always—makeup flawless, hair smooth and shiny, her fittedblazer screaming designer chic. I raised an eyebrow, smirking as she tossed her purse on the counter.
“Well, well, well,” I teased, shifting Astrid to my other arm. “Look who’s finally home. Have fun, Corinne?”
She gave me a confused look, kicking off her heels. “What?”
I tilted my head, eyeing her up and down. “Don’t ‘what’ me, miss perfect hair and smudged lipstick. You’re practically glowing.”
Corinne’s eyes widened slightly. “I—what are you talking about?”
I grinned wickedly. “Oh, please. You’re coming home at noon, hair tousled just a little too perfectly, wearing the same clothes as last night… honey, that’s the walk of shame if I’ve ever seen one.”
Corinne’s cheeks flushed pink. “Shut up!” she laughed, throwing a dishtowel at me.
I dodged it easily, laughing. “So… care to spill? Was it good?”
