“You know, Moira plus Laylani. Loira. Or we could use Maylani if you like that better.”
Scarlett shook her head, but she was smiling as she sat back down at Lachlan’s desk. She put the letter to Elestine to the side. “Who else should I write to? Probably Alastair. We haven’t spoken since the breakup. He’d be pissed off to only hear about me from his mother.”
Brayden’s face went blank. “I don’t know if you owe him that courtesy, but I’d appreciate a letter from you if I were him.” After a moment he asked, “Do you miss him at all?”
She huffed. “No. Breaking up was the right thing to do.”
Although itwasconfusing that her dad had died the day after their breakup. Her life had been split in two, the before andthe after, and Alastair was firmly part of the before—a time she longed for. But returning to him wouldn’t fix what was broken. He’d make things worse, not better.
She sighed. “I keep thinking how he’s the last boyfriend I’ll ever have who knew my father. Like,reallyknew him. Is that a strange thing to be sad about?”
“Not at all.” Brayden’s fathomless brown eyes were full of sorrow.
She cleared her throat, trying to refocus on the task at hand. “None of that’s going in this letter, of course.”
He searched her face, but all he said was “Good.”
She penned a few lines to Alastair explaining the same things she’d mentioned to Elestine. She apologized for missing him when he stopped by after her father’s funeral. The letter read awkwardly when she skimmed over it, but she couldn’t be bothered to try again. Scarlett set it on top of the letter to Elestine.
“Where do I take these to be mailed?”
“I’ll take them after morning drills. The mail goes to Soleil on the afternoon train.”
“Thank you.”
She leaned back in Lachlan’s chair. “I suppose I should write to the Sigur Viður ambassador to apologize for not turning up for my visit.”
Brayden shook his head. “I think you’ve officially reached the non-urgent portion of your to-do list. Why don’t we go do something relaxing, or fun, to take your mind off things?”
She put down her pen. What she really longed for was the before times. “I have a weird request.”
He looked at her curiously. “Anything for you.”
“Can we pretend my dad didn’t die and I’m here just to visit?”
He stilled at first, his eyes flickering with sadness or pity, but then he grinned and pushed his hair out of his face. “That, I cando.” He patted the couch beside him.
She plopped down next to him. Brayden stretched out his long legs, while her feet barely reached the floor. He took her hand in his and rubbed her wrist, sending jolts of pleasure down Scarlett’s arm.
“Tell me about the energy healing with Dr. Bowen.”
Her body relaxed into the sensation of his fingers kneading into her. She’d never known how tactile he was, and it was making it hard to remember he was just her friend.
“It was good but weird. I had a lot of memories come up.”
“Uh-oh,” he said.
“Notthatmemory, thankfully.” She couldn’t have handled reliving her dad’s death. “Only my breakup with Alastair.”
Brayden groaned. “It’s everywhere we turn.”
“I know, right? I can’t wait for it to be further behind me.”
His expression lightened. “Me too. I was trying to be neutral when you first told me, in case youdidget back together, but I’m a huge fan of you ending it with him. I’m selfishly excited to say whatever I like again without worrying about what Alastair will think.”
“What kinds of stuff have you been holding back?”
“Stuff like… someone told me yesterday doing it doggy-style is banned in Soleil. Is that true?” His grin was wicked.
