He chuckles. “Maybe not with him, but there should be with someone else. Don’t let this discourage you from dating.”
“It wasn’t a date.”
“Hm…” he hums softly. “We’ve been so wrapped up in working hard to keep our family home and the thrift store afloat, I think we both need to take my advice and force ourselves to get back out there and act our age. Maybe we should make space for dates instead of filling every free moment with side hustles and work.”
“Listen to yourself,” I say, smiling and pulling back to look at him again. “You haven’t been on a date since your divorce years ago.”
He rakes a hand through his hair. “I know. But we need to do better about modeling a balanced life to Eden.”
“Did you know she has straight A’s this year? I logged into her student account to make a tuition payment today and saw her grades.”
The smile that crosses my brother’s face makes all the shit that happened tonight better. Well, almost better.
“She’s doing great,” I say as he nods in agreement.
“She is. But don’t ignore what I said about dating. Maybe you should give Cain a shot.”
I wet my lips and nod. “Let’s have pizza and a game night tomorrow to celebrate her accomplishments and our resolution to do more for ourselves.”
He chuckles. “Okay. But don’t think I didn’t notice how you just dodged my comment about the lawyer.” I move to stand, trying to escape but he stops me. “You like him more than just a little bit, don’t you?”
I nod. “I do.”
He smiles. “Get some sleep and tell him that in the morning. He seems to like you back a whole lot.”
When I crawl back under the covers upstairs, the sheets still warm from sleep, my mind feels clearer. The kind of quiet clarity that only comes after a bad storm. Maybe I’m through the worst of it now.
For the first time in months, I let myself believe my own advice. That there’s strength in being vulnerable; that Gabriel’s right. We can’t just preach balance to Eden; we have to live it. And maybe that starts with me learning to do more for myself and stop stressing so much about getting ahead and making all the right choices for her. There’s growing in the wrong ones, too.
Gabriel’s right, I lost my twenties being her mother. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t time to reclaim my life now. She’s not ten anymore. She’s grown, capable, finding her own footing in the world. I don’t have to hold my breath waiting for something to go wrong. I can exhale a little.
Reaching for my phone, thoughtfully placed on the bedside table by Gabriel, I unlock the screen and open the text that Cain had sent me before I dropped it in the restaurant and blacked out.
Rhiannon: You aren’t the only one who was at fault for what happened the night in your penthouse with the condom. I’m just as guilty for getting carried away and not being safe.
Rhiannon: The truth is that when I’m with you, I feel like I can stop thinking. Like for once, I can let go, shut off my brain and just relax.
Rhiannon: And that’s because you make me feel safe.
Rhiannon: Text me when you’re back in town. I’d love to meet up with you to talk…
Rhiannon: Also, you were right about going on a date with Rebel. That was a mistake.
Then I turn off my phone and fall asleep.
Chapter 31 – Cain
It’s hardly six in the morning on Thursday, and my flight from LAX has just touched down back in New York City. The only thing that’s keeping me upright is the single cup of stale, black coffee that I’d managed to choke down on the plane.
You’d think sitting in first-class they’d have better options. But the plane was old, and my patience is thin being away from Rhiannon for so long working on a case that’s drained the life out of me.
I glance at my phone again, anxiety gnawing at me as I weave through the terminal to grab a taxi and head straight to the office.
I didn’t sleep a wink during the flight. My mind has been in overdrive since landing in Los Angeles and seeingthattext message from Rhiannon.
Rhiannon: Also, you were right about going on a date with Rebel. That was a mistake.
Why was it a mistake? What did he say to her?
