She huffed out a breath and shook her head. “Not even a little. That man is terrified to lose you.”
“He didn’tloseme. He pushed me away.”
“Becausehe thought he was going to lose you. I’ve seen this play out in, like, a hundred romance books. The brooding hero who pushes the heroine away because he’s afraid of getting hurt? Then, eventually, the big, dumb dummy realizes what an idiot he was and grand gestures the hell out of her.”
I shot her a small smile. “Unfortunately, I don’t think there’s going to be a grand gesture this time. Our life isn’t a romance book.”
“Isn’t it? We’re basically living in a trope factory over here—grumpy/sunshine? Fake dating? Forced proximity?Hello?”
I laughed, unable to stop myself and looked over at my wise-beyond-her-years daughter. “You’re pretty smart, you know that?”
“I do,” she said solemnly. “I’ve clearly spoiled you with my intelligence, so you’re not used to having to deal with people who fuck up. And—to be clear—he definitely fucked up.”
“No argument from me.”
“But I also get why he was running scared. And I think you do too.”
I did. Especially knowing what I did about his father and what he’d done to Atlas and his family. But that didn’t stop the fact that I refused to be with someone who wouldn’t fight for me or what we had. Who spent the entirety of our relationship waiting for the other shoe to drop. I wanted someone who was completely invested, without exception.
“So, are we staying in Starlight Cove or not?” she asked, her tone tentative.
“I had to override your vote on the last move because I didn’t have a choice. I don’t want to do that this time. So, you tell me…do you want to stay in this tiny town with too many festivals and without a mall for that future point in time you might like to go to one? Or do you want to head to Boston, where you begged to go in the first place?”
She sat quietly for a few moments, no doubt weighing the pros and cons of each. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but…I want to stay. I like this town with goats that roam across the street and old ladies who peddle me smut.”
“Mabel?” I asked.
“Mabel,” she confirmed with a nod.
I blew out a laugh and squeezed her hand. “Does your answer change if Atlas isn’t in the picture?”
“No. Same answer with or without him. But for the record? I think he’s going to come around.”
“Don’t hold your breath, Lolo.”
She pressed her lips together like she had more to say but was holding it in. Eventually, she said, “You didn’t tell me what your vote is. Are we staying?”
Pushing down the uncertainty that had been simmering under the surface for weeks, I took a leap that was equal parts terrifying and exhilarating. “We’re staying. I’ll let Quinn know I want to accept the position and tell Boston Medical Center I’m no longer interested.”
A huge smile swept across her mouth, and the sight made the ache in my chest recede just a bit. “This is, like, ahugestep, Mom.”
“I know. We should celebrate tonight with some PB&J’s because that’s pretty much all I have over here.”
She laughed. “Deal. Should I tell Atlas that we’re sticking around? I mean, I'm going to be staying at his house until this place is finished, so it’s not like I can avoid him.”
“You don’t have to lie to him if he comes out and asks, but I’m not volunteering the information. He needs to figure this out on his own.”
She stood and grabbed her bag before pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “And you need to have a little faith that he will. Be back later for dinner.”
I wanted to have as much faith in Atlas as Laurel seemed to have, but I couldn’t. Not when I’d been a front-row witness to just how easily he’d cast me aside.
If he wanted me like she claimed, he’d have to show me that. Prove that he wanted a life with me—with us—and that he was willing to go all in. To put his heart on the line because I was worth it.
But I wasn’t going to sit around and wait, hoping he’d figure shit out. I was going to continue building the life Laurel and I deserved here in Starlight Cove. With or without him.
CHAPTER FORTY
SUTTON
