I glance up at the term of endearment, one I’ve heard him use a few times, and butterflies take up residence in my stomach. “If there’s anything else you want to tell me, now’s the time.”
“I have plenty more to say,” he murmurs in a voice that makes my insides shudder, “but I refuse to do ithereof all places.”
“Oh yeah? Why’s that?”
“Too many children present.”
Our waitress appears, and I realize just how close we are, bodies leaning in and heads bent across the table. I snap back in my chair and give her my most innocent smile as she reads us the specials. I barely hear them, though, because my head’s in the clouds and my heart’s skipping beats and the spark of hope in my chest has grown into a delicate flame.
I wonder if Landon feels it too. The buzz. The anticipation. That floaty feeling that can only mean one thing. Judging by the affectionate looks he keeps giving me and the way he has to keep biting his lip to keep from grinning—noteworthy for him—he’s as happy as I am.
Even at the Crab Shack, of all places.
* * *
When the timer beeps, I remove the cake from the oven. Landon helped me set up my website last weekend, and this is my firstofficialorder through the online interface. I’m excited about this one—a cookies and cream three-layer cake for a kid’s birthday party—and I start to work on the frosting.
I’ve just finished mixing in the cookie crumbles when the doorbell rings unexpectedly. Frowning, I set down the mixing spoon and hurry toward the front door, wondering if it’s an impromptu drop in from Parker, Eli, or even Randall. My heart stops when I realize that it’s not any of them. No. Standing in the doorway is the last person on earth that I want to see.
I stare at the sister who left me, who lied to me, who hurt the person I care about most, and I see a stranger. Red rims the edge of my vision when I look at her, and my fingers clench around the door, fighting the urge to slam it in her face.
“You need to leave,” I tell Mel, and it takes every effort to keep my voice steady. All I see when I look at her now is the bruise on Landon’s cheek, the wound on his hand, the pain in his eyes when he told me the truth. And it cuts me. It cuts me so deep that I can’t breathe.
“Where is he?” she asks slowly, eyes flicking over my shoulder.
“Out,” I say, before attempting to shut the door in her face. Her hand juts out to stop it from closing, so similar to the way mine did the first night I met Landon that I hesitate. In that split second, she gains leverage and forces the door back open, pushing past me into the house.
“I guess I’ll just have to wait for him, then,” she snaps.
“You can’t be here, Mel,” I say, reaching out to grab her arm, but she shoves me off, threatening my balance. I brace my hand against the wall to steady myself and hurry after her into the kitchen, where she’s pacing around, eyes wild.
She seems…off. She looks like she hasn’t eaten, or showered, or slept. Gone is the calm, collected,togetherMel with the new life and the rich husband and the castle built from lies. Out of nowhere, she slams an envelope down on the counter and slaps it so hard I jump.
“Do you realize what this is, Violet?” she demands, and I see the rage now. It’s in the way her eyes flash and her teeth clench. It’s in her voice, which is two octaves lower than usual. She’s buzzing with it, and I can tell she’s hankering for a fight. My eyes shift from my sister to the folder on the table, and when I don’t respond, she snaps, “Divorce papers. Fucking divorce papers.” My heart speeds up, but I do my best not to visibly react. I knew this was coming, but I didn’t realize it was happening so soon. “And don’t think I don’t know whose fault this is.”
My eyes snap back to hers, widening at the implication. “Me? How is thismyfault?”
She laughs. “You can play your little innocent act all you want, but youstole my husband.”
“Mel,” I say calmly, trying to be discreet as I glance around for my phone. “I didn’t steal him.”
“You’re a fun distraction right now,” she snaps, ignoring me, “but pretty soon, you’ll be too much of a disruption, and he’ll retreat. That’s what he does. And then he’ll put all his focus on his company and toss you out on your poor, pathetic ass.”
“I really don’t think I can trust the perspective of the person who blackmailed him for six years,” I say, my voice flat.
“What do you know about it?” she demands. “At least when I left, I made something of myself. I found a way to get an education, a husband, a house, a paycheck. You’ll never beanything. Not unless I pave the way first. Not unless Landon funds it.”
Her words are cruel, but now’s the time to fight back. Now’s the time to stand my ground. Now’s the time to call out my sister for abandoning me and treating me like garbage. For treating Landon like garbage.
“Don’t talk to me like that,” I say, my voice even.
“I’ll talk to you however I damn well please, Violet.Youstole my husband!”
“You destroyed your relationship all on your own!” I cry, my blood starting to boil. “You treated him like shit! I had nothing to do with it.”
Mel blows out a dramatic breath, rolling her eyes. “Once again, Violet James has no idea how her actions affect the rest of us.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I demand, crossing my arms over my chest.
