He grins. “Matching ones.”
I groan. “Kill me now.”
Everly loops her arm through mine as we step onto the sidewalk. “Ignore him. You were perfect today. Mom is obsessed.”
“I could tell.”
“She only gropes people she likes.”
I laugh because honestly, she’s right.
Toby is waiting for me at the studio when I return, sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of a mannequin. He pops up when I come in. “Tell me everything. Did you get the family seal of approval? Tell me you behaved and didn’t say anything, you know … Derrick like.
“Hey.” I’m offended by that comment. I sigh, sinking into my chair. “It was … good. Really good.”
Toby beams. “See? I told you his family would love you. You’re irresistible. You’re like a gay golden retriever.”
“I want to hit you.”
“You love me,” he chirps.
I roll my eyes, but the smile tugging at my lips gives me away.
Toby softens and sits on the edge of my desk. “You look happy, D.”
“I am,” I admit. “I really am.”
It feels good to say it out loud.
Dangerously good.
He nudges my knee. “Then stop waiting for something to go wrong.”
I don’t answer because the truth is, I don’t know how to stop that feeling.
Every time life gets good, something blows it up.
But today?
Today was perfect.
I cling to that for the rest of the afternoon. It feels like the world is finally letting me breathe. It feels like maybe … just maybe … I deserve this.
I grab my phone before leaving the studio, and there’s a text from Charlie waiting for me.
Charlie: Mom loves you, she won’t shut up about you. Fuck I miss you. See you tomorrow. Don’t work too hard.
It hits me right in the chest. Sharp, sweet. Hopeful.
I let myself believe it for one stupid second … that this is it.
That life is finally settling. That nothing can touch us now.
I have no idea that in forty-eight hours, everything will start to crack.
That the first fracture will arrive in the form of a text message.
From Sienna.
