“Oh,Brooke wouldlovethat,” he laughed, and his lips touched mine, kissingme in a way that made waking up easy.
“So,you’ll come be my assistant today?” I asked, lifting my leg to rest over his hip.
“Mm,I wish I could, but I should still go to work this morning. It’s bad enough I’mleaving early to meet up with your mom and Richard.”
Thereminder of my mother visiting brought my jaw to flop open and I stared unseeingat his face. Sleep had caused me to completely forget about my mother coming.Devin asked if I was all right, as I turned away, getting up from the bed.
“KJ?”
“Yeah,I’m fine. I just have to shower,” I said, crossing the floor to the closet to findsomething to wear as my stomach rolled anxiously.
Hefollowed and stood, leaning against the doorframe. “Kylie. Baby, what’s wrong?”
Eventwo months later, my heart still jumped happily at the sound of the pet name,even as my stomach flopped at the thought of meeting my mom’s new boyfriend.The man who had made my father nothing more than a memory to her. The man thathelped her to enjoy life and want to be a better version of herself. While Iknew deep down that I should love him for this, I couldn’t push beyond thetruth that he was the reason she had moved on. And it wasreallyhardfor me to feel okay about that.
Ilicked my lips as I rifled through the closet. Nothing was good, nothing wasright. Iactually hada moment where I was convinced Ishould buy something new, something appropriate. But what the hell do you wearwhen you’re meeting your mom’s new boyfriend, and it felt oddly like a funeralfor the past? I thumbed a black sweater at the thought, and my body stilled. Iturned to Devin, standing there inall ofhisbeautiful glory.
“Ican’t believe this is happening,” I confessed, my mouth dry. “I should behappyfor my mom, but instead, I just keep thinking about my dad.”
Henodded sympathetically. “I know, and you know that that’s okay, right? Nobodyis telling you how to feel. Just, you know, don’t be a dick to the guy. It’snot his fault.”
Ilaughed as a tear weaseled its way from my eye and over my cheek. I wiped at itquickly, urging myself to smile despite it all. “I thought I was okay with it,but … God, I’m such a wreck.”
“It’sokay,” he said, pressing his lips to the top of my head. “There are situationsin life when you’re allowed to be, and I think I’d consider this one of them.”
Ikissed the center of his chest as I inhaled his scent. Comfort. Masculinity.Strength. I tightened my arms around his waist and said, “I really don’t knowwhat I’d ever do without you.”
“Goodthing you’ll never have to find out, huh?”
?
Thehours leading up to their arrival were torturous. Every time a customer walkedin, my head whipped toward the door, thinking Mom and Richard might’ve decidedto come early. Several times, Brooke gave me a hard but sympathetic look,telling me to relax.
ButI couldn’t relax.
WhenDevin walked through the door sometime around three, still wearing his stainedjeans and dust-covered shirt, he leaned over the counter to kiss me.
“Howyouholdingup?” he asked, hoisting his duffel bagonto his shoulder.
“Uh,I’m somewhere between wanting to cry and wanting to throw up,” I admitted witha weak smile and he kissed me again.
“So,about expected,” he said, winking before bolting for the stairs to get changed.
Theafternoon crowd kept us busy. Brooke and I manned the counter while Devin kepthimself occupied with reading, tuning his guitar andhelpingoutwhere he could. And, finally, five o’clock rolled around and myphone chimed with a text message.
Itwas Mom
Afterreading the announcement that they would be there in less than ten minutes, Ishooed Brooke out of the shop and bolted up to my office to touch-up mylipstick and mascara. Devin followed me up and he watched while I pulled myhair down from its bun and brushed it out with my fingers.
“MaybeI should have gotten a haircut,” I fussed, untangling a knot.
Helaughed. “Seriously?” he said, pushing his own hair away from his eyes. “You’refine.”
ThenI pinched my eyes shut and shook my head. My hands covered my face, and Igroaned. “No,” I said, dropping my arms to my sides and turning to him. “God,I’m just so—”
“Kylie,”he said, taking my hands in his. “Iknow. It’sfine.” He kissedmy forehead, and the door jingled from downstairs. “You ready?”
“OhGod,” I exhaled and tipped my forehead to his chest. “Oh God, okay, drag me outof here.”
