I smiled at the women. “I think I need to see this amazing bedroom.”
“I’ll bring up your suitcase,” Paloma said.
“Then we’ll have some tea and cookies,” Ida Jane said.
“She makes the best cookies,” Millie said. “Beware of them. They’re addicting.”
“No way Hana will get to eat that many if Paxton’s around,” Keelie said. “Cormac inhales them, leaving me crumbs.” She shot a glance at the door where Paloma had just gone. “Oof, I probably shouldn’t have said that.”
“No worries.” Naomi waved her hand. “Adam was a constant diet cheater, and he did just fine.” She glanced over at me, her expression filled with pride. “Sixteen years in the league.”
“That is impressive,” I murmured.
“Naese should have as many,” Paloma said as she returned. “Well, as long as he stays healthy.”
“That’s the kicker, isn’t it?” Keelie said on a sigh. “But Adam did, and so has Cruz. I guess we just keep expecting the good?—”
“Even as we prepare for something unexpected,” Millie said with a nod.
That’s what I was doing with Paxton: soaking up the good right now. Still, I should prepare my escape route for when this glorious, almost too-perfect time in my life ended. It always ended—my father’s death, my mother and brother’s disdain, Paxton leaving me, the accident. Every time I thought life was wonderful, it imploded. So, I should look soon to find my own place to live and not rely on Paxton.Why had I agreed to stay with him in the first place?
Well, actually I knew. Paxton had asked nicely, and I’d wanted to agree. But that didn’t make staying here smart. So why did it feel wrong to consider leaving now that I stood looking at everything he’d done for me? I took a deep breath, determined to slow my whirling brain.
* * *
After my emotional arrival,the women and I managed to get my things unpacked and put away in Paxton’s former bedroom. I tried to kick up a fuss about that, but those five women were forces of nature, and I realized quickly that I didn’t stand a chance of winning. I didn’t have much, so I figured I could move out of the beautifully appointed bedroom after they left.
Dragging my hand across the cranberry silk duvet, I sighed, already missing the chance to sleep in the beautiful bed with its mountain of pillows. The rest of the room wasn’t that different from the last time I’d been here, but Paxton had hung up a series of black and white photos of the two of us. They took up an entire wall—a feat considering the room had such high ceilings. The photos started when we were in elementary school. The cascade downward showcased us together at various events from campouts in Paxton’s yard to his hockey games to school dances and prom, and then our college years when we’d been apple picking and skiing.
The montage stole my breath and made my fingers shake as I touched one of the frames. It was my favorite: the image of Paxton and me bundled up after a day on the slopes. I smiled at the camera, rosy-cheeked, and he looked at me with so much love and pride.
“Damn, girl.” Keelie whistled. “That’s one scorching look.”
“Know where that led,” Naomi said as she walked past, patting her waking baby’s bottom as she moved toward the cavernous closet where Paloma was busy hanging up my work clothes.
I looked away. It had led to a hot night of tangled sheets, sweat, moans, and a whole lot of pleasure.
I hadn’t let myself think about that particular part of our relationship for years; losing Paxton had been too painful to even consider revisiting the good times. And that night had been thebest, especially when he’d brushed my hair back from my damp forehead and stared deep into my eyes.
“You’re my future,” he’d said.
“You’re my life,” I’d replied as I rested my cheek against him.
“I love you, Hana. So much.”
I’d fallen asleep with his words in my ear, our skin still connected.
Mere months later, he’d broken my heart.
“His dad showed up at a game recently,” Ida Jane said. She studied the pictures.
I turned toward her, but she remained in profile. She reached out and straightened the edge of a frame.
“And?”
Finally, Ida Jane turned toward me. “From what I heard, his dad warned him away from you?—”
“And Luka stepped in and chewed that horrible man’s butt to paste—” Millie began.
