She insisted on doing each nail a different color, and I ended up with more polish on my skin than my nails.But half an hour later, we were done, and she looked so proud of her work that I made sure to make a big fuss over how much I loved it.
Once the nail polish was dry, we went into the living room and turned on a Disney movie.I grew up watching the classics, but Gracie’s current favorite was about a Scottish girl with a bow and arrow that accidentally turned her mom into a bear.I actually enjoyed it and got so wrapped up in watching the movie that I didn’t immediately notice when Gracie fell asleep on the couch beside me.
When her little snores reached my ears, I looked over to see her sprawled out on her back, her long eyelashes resting against her cheek and her dark curls haloed around her head.She looked so cute that my heart swelled with affection.
Carefully lifting her into my arms, I carried her up the stairs to her bedroom and settled her onto her toddler mattress.She’d already changed into pajamas right after dinner, so all I had to do was tuck the covers around her and turn on her nightlight before slipping out of the room.
I’d just pulled the door closed behind me when my phone started to ring in my pocket.I flinched at the sudden sound before rushing down the hall away from Gracie’s room so that the ringtone didn’t wake her.Pulling it out, I saw that it was Whitney.
I hadn’t spoken to my best friend since the previous weekend, so I hadn’t had the chance to fill her in on everything going on at work.Eager to talk to her, I answered just before my voicemail picked up.
“Hello?”I walked downstairs and back to the kitchen.
“Hey,” she greeted me.“What are you up to?”
The question itself didn’t tell me anything, but there was a slight hesitation in Whitney’s voice that made me frown.I put the call on speakerphone and placed the phone on the kitchen island while I poured myself a glass of wine.
“I’m just babysitting Gracie.Is everything okay with you?”
“Yeah, yeah.”She hesitated for a moment.“I just need to tell you something…”
I took a sip of the sweet red wine and braced myself.Whatever it was, it sounded serious.
“I saw something on social media today,” she finally said.“James is getting married.”
I blinked.That was it?The urge to laugh bubbled up.“Oh my God, Whit.I thought someone died.”I took another sip of wine before picking up the phone and heading to the living room couch.I settled in with my feet tucked underneath me.
Whitney exhaled, a long gust of worry leaving her.“So…you’re not upset?”
“Absolutely not,” I said emphatically.“All of that was years ago and I promise you I’m over it.”
It was true.James was once the great unrequited love of my life and if I’d gotten this news two or three years ago, it would have devastated me.But I wasn’t still in love with the man.We weren’t even in contact these days.
Hearing about his wedding didn’t reignite any of those old feelings, but it did remind me of how it felt to be cast aside, to feel like I wasn’t good enough.I used to wonder what was wrong with me that made it so easy for James to keep me in the friend-with-benefits zone and never see me as more.
And stupidly, just for a second, my mind flickered to Liam.To waking up alone in that hotel room.To that same sting in my chest.But I forced myself to breathe through it, because I knew the situation wasn’t the same.
Liam wasn’t James.And what had happened with Liam wasn’t a reflection of my worth.It was a reflection ofhiswalls and his inability to stay when something felt real, and not a flaw in me.
“Well, I was a little concerned the news about James would bother you, but I’m glad you’re okay,” Whitney said, bringing my attention back to our conversation.“Besides, you can do better than a playboy like him, anyway.”
My mind betrayed me with an immediate image of Liam—broad shoulders, expensive suit, that focused stare he got when he was listening.The way he’d leaned toward me yesterday in his office, like kissing me was the most natural thing in the world.
Yeah, I sure knew how to pick them.Another man who didn’t stick around when things got too intense.Another man with charm to spare and a past he seemingly wasn’t over.A playboy?Not exactly.But unavailable?Absolutely.
I forced myself to shake it off before Whitney could hear every intrusive thought spiraling through my head.“Anyway,” I said, clearing my throat and shifting gears fast, “Speaking of complicated men…there’s something I haven’t told you yet.”
“Oh, no,” she said, immediately alert.“What now?”
“Liam, the guy from my birthday?”I said, knowing she’d realize who I meant.“He’s one of the investors working with GalvaTech.”
There was a beat of stunned silence before Whitney practically shrieked, “Are you kidding me?What the hell.How did that even happen?”
“You think I planned it?”I muttered, rubbing my forehead.“I walked into the conference room andsurprise, there he was.”
Whitney groaned dramatically.“Of all the offices in New York, he had to walk into yours.Girl, that is a crazy coincidence.”
I sighed.“Trust me, I know.”
