But Steven was more than my best friend’s enemy, and more than a casual fuck. He had done so much for me. And he hadn’t meant for James to get hurt. That counted for something, didn’t it?
Great. Now I felt guilty fornotdefending him, too. I couldn’t win.
James pivoted to the refrigerator, glancing at me over her shoulder before opening it. “You don’t have to pay rent? That’s nice of him.” When Adam scowled, she rolled her eyes. “What? Itis. I don’t like him, either, but you know he’s not pure evil. He’s not even the worst person in Aspen Springs. Remember that guy Essie stole the horse from? Way worse.”
I grimaced. James wasn’t exactly setting a high bar for Steven to clear. And the thing was, I didn’t think he was a bad guy at all. Not anymore. Steven was a good guy who had done a very bad thing.
“It’s just temporary,” I reminded all of us. I rubbed my forehead. “Mom wants me to move back home and work for my dad while she babysits.” We hadn’t spoken since yesterday when Steven had dragged me out of there. I wondered if she was waiting for me to call her to apologize. If she was, she’d be waiting forever because I wasn’t sorry.
James frowned. “What about your clients? I thought you were pushing the clinic to expand its telehealth options.”
“Obviously, she’s hoping I’ll come to my senses.” I fiddled with the bag of chocolate chips. If we weren’t using them for cookies, I might as well eat a handful. “She’s never liked running the business. It would be great for her if I took over.”
James’s frown deepened. “It’s your life, Chloe. What doyouwant?”
I sighed. “I just want everyone to be okay, you know?”
James stood behind me and wrapped me up in a tight hug. “I know. I get it.”
I knew she would. I squeezed her forearm that rested across my clavicle. “Thanks.”
She released me and got back to work on the cookies.
“So, what are you going to do, really? If you move back in with your parents, you know you’re gonna be there for at least a few years. You don’t want that, do you?” James asked. When I shook my head, she continued, “But you don’t want to stay with Steven after the baby is born, either.”
“Right,” I said uncertainly.
But…what if I did? Would I live there as his roommate, or something more? And what would that mean for my friendship with James? She wasn’t going to step foot in Steven’s house to see me or Radish. It was one thing for this to be temporary, but permanent? I was going to live somewhere she didn’t feel comfortable visiting? No. Our friendship wouldn’t survive that kind of betrayal.
“Right,” I said again, with conviction this time.
“So, where are you gonna go?” James asked. “Have you started looking?”
“I started this morning. There really wasn’t anything yet. A one-bedroom rental above the hardware store on Second Street.” My pulse ticked anxiously. I was fucked.
“You know, one of the ranch hand cabins is empty.” Adam rubbed his jaw. “I wouldn’t say it’s a suitable option for a woman and a newborn baby, but…When are you due, again?”
“May,” I told him.
He nodded. “We could get it in shape by then. Build a small addition for a second bedroom. Hell of a commute to your office, though.”
“If the clinic agrees to my telehealth proposal, I’ll mostly be working from home,” I said.
“Huh.” Adam tilted his head thoughtfully. “We have strong wi-fi. That could work.”
I stared at him. “Are you serious? I could live here at Lodestar?”
James squealed and threw her arms around Adam. “Of course he’s serious! Oh, my gosh, that would be perfect! And I bet Ted wouldn’t mind pitching in with childcare while you’re working.”
Adam laughed. “Dad does love babies.”
“It’s perfect,” James said again, her big dark eyes sparkling with excitement. “You won’t have to live with Steven anymore.”
I should have felt nothing but relief. I had a plan. Problem solved. Everything would go back to the way it should be.
So why did I feel so sad?
I wishedthis glass of water was wine. Or, better yet, whiskey. Because the feelings tornado-ing in my chest when I watched Steven out the kitchen window weren’t the kind of things someone should have to suffer through sober.
