“Darn right, you’re leaving that loser. It’s about time.”
“No, I’m leaving Portland.”
“What?” Celeste shrieked.
Amy shushed her, casting a glance at the bedroom door.
Celeste lowered her voice and said, “You and Kallie can stay here as long as you need. You don’t have to leave Portland.”
Warmth flooded Amy’s chest. Celeste and Grant didn’t have much room, so the invitation meant a lot to her. With Grant’s younger siblings living with them and a baby of their own on the way, they didn’t need Amy and Kallie underfoot.
“That means the world to me, C, but that isn’t necessary.” Amy squared her shoulders and raised her chin. “I have to leave. If I stay here, I’ll end up letting Lance talk me into coming back.” As disgusted as she was with Lance, her resolve always weakened when he turned on the charm. It made her sick to realize how easily he played her.
“Over my dead body. I’ll make Grant go beat up Lance tomorrow and threaten him if he ever comes near you.”
Her best friend since fifth grade would do anything for her, and Grant, who was hopelessly in love with his wife, would do whatever she asked. But the last thing Amy wanted was Celeste coming to her rescue, again.
No, I need to do this by myself.
“It’s just as well I quit my job,” Amy said, getting to her feet. “This way I can leave without any ties. Without regrets.”
Except she had regrets. The last three years were full of them.
“That doesn’t mean you have to leave the city.” Celeste stood too.
Amy opened the door to the partially finished nursery where her daughter slept and studied Kallie’s peaceful, angelic face.When did my baby get so big?
Kallie was the best thing that ever happened to Amy. She’d taught Amy what it meant to love, wholly and unconditionally. Amy could never regret or resent that like her mother had resented her.
My mother.
“I turned out like my mother,” Amy said in a strained whisper.
“No, you are nothing like her. You’re ten times the woman she was.”
Oh, how she wanted to believe Celeste, but Amy’s actions betrayed her. “I’m taking my child out of bed in the middle of the night to leave an abusive, cheating boyfriend—exactly like my mother did on more than one occasion.”
Celeste’s gaze dropped to the floor.
Amy lifted Kallie from the crib and cradled the toddler in her arms, drawing comfort from the powerful surge of love flowing through her. She buried her nose in Kallie’s soft curls and inhaled her daughter’s clean, innocent scent. It wouldn’t stay that way. Life had a way of stealing innocence.
Not if I can help it.
She’d protect Kallie as long as she could. Starting by getting as far away from Lance as possible.
“Where will you go?” Celeste followed her to the front door.
Fear and uncertainty tightened Amy’s chest. “I don’t know, but my next job won’t be in a bar. And I swear, I’m done with men.”
“Come on, Amy, just because Lance was a jerk, doesn’t mean all men are.”
After the day she’d had, Amy couldn’t disagree more, but she didn’t want to argue with her best friend.
Celeste had been as jaded as Amy, but she’d found happiness a year ago with Grant, and ever since, she’d been an advocate for love. That’s partly why Celeste had never liked Lance—he was self-centered and not at all concerned about Amy’s happiness.
As Lance’s true colors had shown themselves, Amy had been too proud to leave because it meant she’d turned out like her mother.
“I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know where I end up.”
