Me
That is so sweet. I love you, Adds.
Addison
See? That was me just stating facts. Not complimenting you. You’re easily confused by these things, apparently.
Me
He also said he likes the sound of his name when I say it.
Addison
OKAY…UM…
This is giving me flashbacks from when I was Perry's nanny. But still, we can work with this!
Ah, yes. When her deep attraction to Perry made her panic during a family trip with him and his kids. I remember texting her about it last summer, talking her down in a way similar to how she’s texting me. Except there’s nothing for her to talk me down from, because I’m not panicking. Yes, Bash is extremely attractive himself for a tattooed giant, but that has nothing to do with me. It doesn’t affect meat all, in fact.
Me
Come to church with me tomorrow morning. We can talk more about this then.
Addison
I don’t know. Remember what happened last time?
I briefly recall the way Addison’s newborn cried on and off the entire service before she and Perry ended up leaving early.
I’m about to text her back, but my mom calls me. I lift the phone to my ear. “Hey, Mom!”
“Hey. How did the paint turn out? You never told me.”
A twinge of guilt nicks my stomach. “Sorry. It turned out great!”
She laughs. “Good. Just wanted to make sure you don’t need anything else before your father and I leave town.”
“You’re leaving town?”
“Yes. He’s taking me on ajust becausetrip. A cruise, actually. Just the two of us.”
I frown. “What about Aiden?”
“Zara will be home with him. She’s going to take him to school,” my mom says. “It’s a good thing, too, because I’m sure that boy would miss the rest of his senior year if we’d let him. And before you ask me, I don’t know where we’re going because it’s a surprise.”
The joy in my mom’s voice does strange things to my heart. Part of me feels happy for her, because she and Dad have always had such a loving, healthy relationship, even after giving birth to me and my siblings. I’ve definitely envied them more than once. And now is no exception. But along with the envy, there’s sadness knowing I’m pushing away the possibility of what she has—a happy marriage and children who love her. By letting Cole taint my view of relationships, I’m pushing away surprise trips to share with the one I love, or fostering children like I once dreamed of, and Christmas mornings filled with those children’s laughter as they rip open their gifts. I won’t have that note ofromantic wanderlust in my voice when I tell people how my husband made me smile. I won’t have any of it, because I no longer want it. Idon’t.
“I hope you two have fun, Mom. I, uh, have to get back to work.”
“Thanks, sweetie. Don’t work too hard, okay?”
If only she knew.“Okay.”
When I hang up, I try to focus on the positive.You have a place of your own to call home, Romilly. You own a thriving pet salon. Or, at least, it will be thriving once Agatha comes back. And best of all, you’re not lonely. You’re just fine. And no one can break your heart again.
But then Bash breaks my focus as he emerges from the back and locks eyes with me. He looks like he has a question, but when he takes in the way I’m hunched over at my desk, aggressively rubbing my temples, his expression shifts into concern. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
