Adam looks at her and nods. “Yes. I’d like that.”
She runs into her brother’s arms, and he wraps her in a hug,emotion clear in his eyes as he soaks in this moment of holding his sister. Isabelle rubs his back, looking like a proud mother hen, and I can’t help the smile on my own face.
“All right, time to leave these two alone,” Isabelle says, pulling on Adam’s shoulder. “I’m sure we’ll be seeing you around.”
Adam releases Lily, then holds his hand out to me. Like earlier with Henry, it’s a peace offering, a promise of a new start between us. I put my hand in his and we shake, and Lily clutches on to my other arm with excitement I can feel through her fingertips.
“Have a good night,” Adam says. His eyes narrow. “But if you try to do anything untoward with Lily, I swear?—”
“Okay, bye!” Isabelle cuts him off and tugs him away. I can hear her mutter to him as they leave, “I told you, she’s an adult now!” Adam grumbles something back to her, and Lily and I chuckle.
I finally take a deep breath and gather her into my arms. This day hasn’t been what I envisioned my reunion with Lily looking like. We haven’t had a moment to justbetogether, to appreciate that the last few months are over and we can finally be together again.
Looking down at her, I can’t believe we’re in the same place at the same time, and I marvel at the miracle that brought us back together.
“Where are you staying?” Lily asks, her head tipped up to me and her eyes shining.
“Peter said I can stay with him. I guess he got a hotel separate from the family.”
“Figures.” She rolls her eyes. “Although it was nice to be with him. I haven’t seen him in person for years.”
I shake my head. “I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s not your fault. But wait. When did you arrive? How do you not have a place to stay?”
I shrug. “I flew straight here as soon as I figured it out.”
She furrows her brow. “How did you know about the concert?”
I explain the conversation I overheard and how I saw the Windsor Conservatory website. How I made a snap decision, not knowing for certain that she would be here but knowing that I’d regret it the rest of my life if I didn’t come.
“I’m so glad you were here, especially with Tristan showing up,” she says.
I run my thumb across her cheek. “But you don’t have to worry about him anymore. There’s no way he’s going to try anything again.”
“Honestly, I believe it this time.” She gives me a smirk. “You made sure of that.”
“You handled yourself first, though,” I reply. “And I’m really proud of you for that.”
“Thanks to what you taught me.” Her eyes flick over to my wrist, and they fill with emotion. Her voice is soft when she speaks. “You’re wearing the bracelet.”
I grin. “Hardly ever took it off.”
She lifts her hand and wiggles her wrist. “Same.” She swallows, her glassy eyes darting back and forth between mine. “I’m so sorry I left, Ryder.”
I shake my head, moving my hand from her cheek to cup the back of her head. “It’s not your fault.”
“No. I could have talked to you about it. We could have faced it together.”
“I don’t blame you.”
“They threatened your career,” she says. “If I told you anything, Mr. Calhoun was going to make sure you didn’t get a job again.”
“Lily,” Isay softly. “That wasn’t your call to make.”
“But this way, I was the only one getting hurt. If I got you involved, then you’d?—”
“Still have you,” I say. I kiss her lightly on the forehead, letting my lips linger there. “Losing my job would have meant nothing compared to the agony I’ve been in for the last seven months.”
