“You’re in love with her,” Maddie said, leaning against the door.
“I don’t know what I am,” he said honestly. Was this what love felt like? The worry that someone wouldn’t want him back the same way? The fear that Alexandria could walk away at any moment and leave him with an emptiness he’d never be able to get over? A lightness at the thought of her? Images of what it would be like to wake up next to her every single day? For good?
Before either of them could push, he looked at Kyra. “She needs a dress for the party. I told her you might have something she could borrow and that I’d give you her number.”
Kyra walked over and wrapped her arms around him, hugginghim hard. He squeezed her back, his thoughts whirling like a tornado. When Kyra stepped away, he looked at Maddie.
“You didn’t tell us.”
Maddie left her spot at the door and moved to the leather couch, sat down. “I was shocked. He only told me a couple of weeks ago. He’s been thinking about it for a lot longer, though.”
“Dad is pissed.” Kyra shook her head as she walked to the mini fridge beside the couch and pulled out a water. “So is Mom. But Grandpa made the right decision. You’re going to be awesome at this, Mads.”
“You absolutely are. And Dad will get over it. So will Mom. Your vision for the future aligns more with Gramps’s. We tried Dad’s way. It wasn’t going to end well.”
They sat there, the three of them, all a little lost in the events of the morning. Things were changing. Will knew change was inevitable. That didn’t make it less frightening. His fingers itched to text Lexi, to call her and hear her voice. But clearly, she needed some space. He just hoped it was temporary.
Twenty-seven
Technically, she hadn’t been fired. She’d quit. Sort of. She’d simply made a choice.You chose your fake fiancé over a job. Not cool, Lex. Not cool.But the thought of serving Carolyn and Emily had been just one more punch Lexi couldn’t brace for.
She’d had her Zoom call with Ethan and Brady this morning, ironing out a few details like wages, expectations, and scheduling. She’d texted Jackie and Becca to tell them tonight wouldn’t work and then turned her phone off. Because even though she hadn’t been fired and she actually had something to celebrate with this new opportunity at Side Tap, Lexi couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was about to come tumbling down around her. Which was saying something since she hadn’t risen up from the rubble of three years ago yet.
“I made some eggs,” Gwen said from the doorway.
Lexi continued staring at the ceiling of her childhood bedroom. It no longer had posters of Taylor Lautner or Nick Jonas, but the little pieces of popcorn ceiling that had ripped when she took them off were a reminder of her former self. Her hopefulanything can happenself.
“I spoke to the counselor while you were on the computer today,” Gwen said.
Lexi sat up in her bed, looked at her mom. “That was hours ago. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Gwen shrugged one shoulder. “You were mopey and I didn’t know what to say.”
Lexi laughed but there was no energy behind it. “It would be a good time to point out the irony. Also, I’m not mopey.”Lies.Shewasmopey and it was pissing her off.
“What happened?”
Lexi threw her legs over the side of the bed, contemplated getting up, having some eggs. It wasn’t often Gwen made them anything to eat.
“Nothing.”
“You were never a very good liar,” Gwen said.
Lexi stared after her when she walked away.A lot you know. You think I’m engaged. That a man like Will would marry me. A woman who can’t even hold a job as a fucking waitress.She might not have quit but it definitely wasn’t something she’d been good at. Lexi got up and found her mom in the kitchen. The eggs were in a bowl on the counter, dishes in the sink. A bag with the logoAURORA NURSERYcaught her gaze.
“What’s this?” She was already opening the bag before her mom could respond. She looked back over her shoulder when she saw what was inside. “Tulip bulbs?”
Gwen scooped a small forkful of eggs off her plate, nodding. “Maisie dropped them off for me. She was in a rush; she’s doing an engagement shoot and wanted to beat the traffic.”
“Okay. Why?”
“Why what?”
Lexi’s laugh felt rough. “I feel like you’re being deliberately obtuse. Why the tulips, Mom?”
She finished chewing before setting her plate down. “I used to like gardening. Do you remember?”
Lexi nodded. She used to like gardening; Lexi used to like running. They used to be and do a lot of things.
