Her little fingers curled around mine. “So, we don’t have to leave this house? We don’t have to move in with him?”
I squeezed her hand gently. “No, sweetheart. We don’t have to do anything until we’re both ready. This is our home, and we’ll only make changes when it feels right for both of us.”
Her gaze drifted toward her stuffed animals on the floor. “So someday … we will move in with him?”
I took a deep breath. “Only if you’re okay with it, Evie. You know we’re going to his place for his surprise birthday party in a few days? You can see if you like it there.”
She looked back at me, brow furrowed in thought. “But what if I miss my room after we move there?”
I smiled and brushed my fingers through her hair. “We’ll find a way to bring your room with us. Your clothes, your toys, and all your books. We’d make it feel like home together. But we don’t have to decide that now.”
Her shoulders relaxed just a little. “Okay. Can I still see him if we don’t live there yet?”
“Of course, baby,” I said, wrapping her in a hug. “You get to take your time, just like I am. We’ll figure it out together. As long as we’re a team, we’ll be okay wherever we live.”
That seemed to put her at ease. She smiled and gave me one more squeeze before settling back into her chair to finish her cereal.
At that moment, I felt like everything in my life couldn’t get any better. I had the kind of love I hadn’t dared dream about, and I hoped that I got to keep it forever.
A week later,much to my surprise, Evie announced she was ready to live in Jonah’s penthouse. We’d visited several times before she came to her decision, and I wondered if the luxurious apartment and large TV had influenced her, but I cautiously moved some of our things over while keeping the lease on my old apartment.
Sasha was moving out in a month to live with her fiancé. She was happy I wouldn’t be alone but didn’t understand why I felt the need to keep the lease. But we still had eight months left on it anyway, and I wasn’t sure if Evie would change her mind again and demand to go back.
One night after I moved, when Jonah had gone to sleep early, I snuck out of our bedroom to make a call.
I walked into the high-ceilinged living room, my phone in my hand as I sat down on the couch. I sank in instantly while I stared at a contact name on my phone screen.
Ed Walkers.
Three months ago, I would have been scandalized to think I’d have the phone number of the company’s owner. Now, I just felt jaded when I stared at the name and considered what I had to do.
I took a deep breath and hit Call before I could talk myself out of it. The phone rang three times. Four. Finally, I heard something.
“Yeah?”
That was it. Nohello. Nothis is Ed, just a gravelly bark of a man who sounded like I’d interrupted his very important day.
“Hi, Ed! This is Lexi. Jonah’s girlfriend.”
Silence. I heard a clock ticking somewhere.
“We met at the yacht party on the Hudson a while ago,” I added.
I got nothing from him.
I pressed on. “I’m throwing a small thing at our place tomorrow for Jonah’s birthday. Nothing fancy. Just friends, a few drinks, and a cake I’m baking for him. I thought it might mean a lot to him if you came.”
He sighed, like I’d asked him to donate a million dollars instead of show up for his own son. Perhaps the former might have even been easier for him.
“That’s not really my thing.”
I blinked. “Showing up?”
“Parties,” he said flatly. “Jonah doesn’t need me there.”
“He doesn’t expect you there,” I said, forcing my voice to remain gentle, “but I think it would mean a lot to him. Even if you just came for ten minutes. You wouldn’t have to bring anything. Just come by.”
He was silent for a bit, before he spoke again. “I’ve got plans.”
