“I’ll keep you company while you unpack,” she says, sitting down in an armchair near the window. “What did you want to say about Easton?”
“Oh ...” Not wanting to put my luggage on the pristine white covers, I lay the bag on the floor and open it. “Will he be okay with me being here?”
“Of course.” A slight frown forms on her forehead.
I place my handbag beside my luggage before removing two dresses. Walking to the closet, I admit, “I’m just going to be straight with you. He’s a famous actor, and I don’t know what to do when I see him again.”
A burst of laughter escapes Rachel, and getting up, she walks to my open bag and grabs a sweater before coming toward me. “He’s still the Easton you knew back when we were in school.”
“I doubt that,” I mutter. I hang the two dresses, then glance at her as she places the threadbare sweater down on a shelf.
She gives me a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry about Easton.”
Easier said than done.
Not knowing how to explain that I’m super nervous about seeing him, I let the subject go.
While we continue to unpack, I hear my cell phone beep like crazy with incoming messages. The sound instantly sends a wave of apprehension crashing through me, tensing every muscle in my body.
It’s probably Trent who’s noticed I’m gone. Crap, he must be so angry.
I stare at where my bag is on the floor, thinking how badly he’ll beat me for running away like this.
“Aren’t you going to check your phone?”
Ripped out of my thoughts, I quickly shake my head. “It can wait until later.”
Trent isn’t here, and he doesn’t know where I am.
I’m safe with Rachel.
Deep breaths.
“So, things are over between you and Trent?” Rachel asks. Staring at me, her eyebrows narrow. “What happened?”
With trembling hands, I place a small stack of leggings on one of the shelves.
All I want to do is run into my best friend’s arms and cry my heart out, but instead, I give her a generic answer. “Things just didn’t work out between us.”
Rachel has enough on her plate.
As I walk back to my almost-empty bag, we hear Lainey calling, “Mom, I’m home.”
“We’re in the guest room, sweetheart,” Rachel replies.
The moment Lainey barrels into the bedroom, a wide smile splits over my face. I only have enough time to open my arms when she slams into me.
“You’re here!” she exclaims happily.
I flinch hard from the ache in my ribs caused by the impact of her body hitting mine, and sucking in a harsh breath, I say, “Hey, sweet girl.”
We hug, and when we pull apart, she jumps up and down with excitement. “Mom and I made so many plans last night. We’re going to take you shopping and show you around LA. It will be so much fun!”
“But first, you’re going to do your homework,” Rachel reminds her daughter.
“Ugh,” Lainey grumbles with a disgruntled expression. “I don’t want to.”
God, she’s grown so much since I last saw her. I can’t believe she’s ten years old already.
