“Just be careful,” she warns. “I don’t like how he’s trying to weasel his way back into your life. You should have been able to escape him all the way over in New York.”
“He suggested he visit me.”
“Asshole.”
“Well, he’s not coming,” I scoff.
I can’t think of anything worse than having Rory here. It’s bad enough that he happens to be visiting his parents, who live next door to my mum and dad, whenever I’m at their house, which usually results in us all having dinner together. If it weren’t for the support from his family over the years, then it might be easier to get him out of my life.
Unfortunately, it’s not.
“Sterling called me Hallie,” I blurt.
“Sterling?” Sophie’s usually calm voice hitches. “How did that make you feel?”
“Like she was right there in the room with us.” I sniff as hot tears well in my eyes. “Like she was… It’s too crazy to even say out loud.”
“You thrive on crazy.”
I laugh. “I know, right?”
She stays silent as I sniff a couple more times and swipe my palm over my hot cheeks. But I can hear her gentle breathing as she waits for me to be ready.
“He…”
I swallow as I recall the way my hand felt inside Sterling’s. My fingers pulsed with energy long after he let it go.
“I feel things when I’m with him. All this wild energy. It’s like a dam waiting to burst. He lost his wife and son. We must be connected through grief, it’s the only thing that explains it. He’s twenty years older than me.”
“It’s not the only thing that might explain it.”
“No way.” I shake my head.
Sophie’s being ridiculous. Pregnancy hormones must be affecting her logic. She’s always the logical one. I’m the one who is swept along by ideas that arrive on the wind.
“You always said love knows no age.”
“I am not a match for Sterling.”
I run my hand around the back of my neck. It’s burning hotter than my cheeks did when he told me I looked beautiful.
“I’m not. He’s fifty. He’s myclient. And he’s also going on a date with an absolutely incredible woman who I’m sure is going to create a vibration strong enough to shake the whole of Manhattan when he meets her.”
“Whatever happens, just know that I love you,” she says. “Remember that.”
I drop onto the couch and blow out a breath. “I love you too.”
There’s a hammering at the door, and the sound of giggles float through, accompanied by an excited yip.
“Just a second,” I call out.
“I’ve got visitors,” I say to Sophie as I walk to the door.
“I’ll let you go. Have fun. I’ll call you later.”
“Look after that bump,” I say, hanging up.
I peer through the spyhole. Zoey’s brandishing a take-out bag, and Sinclair is standing next to her, waving Monty’s paw in the air.
