Lainey lets out a bark of laughter. “You’re not a bumbling idiot.” She looks me up and down. “You’re pretty.”
I pull her close for a sideways hug. “Aww, thanks, my sweet girl.”
When I suck on the straw of my milkshake, she asks, “So what do you think? Best milkshake ever, right?”
I nod. “I love it.”
We stare at the ocean again, and my thoughts turn to when I fell in love with Easton. I think I was fourteen. Rachel and I were having a sleepover at her house, and Easton came out of the bathroom only wearing a pair of shorts. His hair was damp, and there were a couple of stray drops on his chest and abs.
I felt hot all over and didn’t know where to look. I ended up walking into the doorjamb when I tried to dart into Rachel’s bedroom.
Yeah, that day, I was a bumbling idiot.
“Nova?” Lainey asks, her tone soft. “Why did Mom cry this morning?”
Crap.
Trying to avoid answering, I ask, “What makes you think she cried?”
“Her face was all blotchy.”
I suck in a deep breath of air, and feeling rotten for lying, I answer, “She was just happy to see Easton.”
Lainey thinks for a moment, then says, “She’s never cried before when he’s come home from filming.”
My mind races to think of a better lie, then I say, “Maybe she’s happy because I’m here as well. It’s the first time we’re all together.”
Thankfully, my excuse seems to put Lainey at ease. “That’s true.” She grins at me. “Let’s go home, so we can show them what we bought.”
“That sounds like a good idea.” I climb to my feet and brush the sand from my dress while we walk toward the SUV.
We stop to toss the empty cups into the trash, and I glance over my shoulder at the ocean, hoping I’ll get to see it again soon.
After we get back into the vehicle, she says, “We can go home, Izak.”
During the short drive, Lainey grins. “Mom’s going to love the dress I got for the bake sale.”
“You looked good in it,” I say. “I wish I had your sense of style. When I was your age, I only wore shorts and T-shirts.”
She looks me up and down. “I like the dress you’re wearing today. It’s pretty.”
Her compliment boosts my fragile self-esteem, making me smile. “Aww, thank you.”
When the SUV pulls up to the front of the mansion, I’m once again struck by how big and luxurious the place is.
“Let’s get all your bags,” I murmur.
“Don’t worry about it. Tyler and Izak will bring everything inside,” Lainey says while shoving her door open.
Earlier, when we were shopping, I was surprised when the driver and bodyguard doubled as pack mules for Lainey. They didn’t complain once though.
Gosh, life is very different here.
Again, I’m hit with the fact that I’m at Easton’s place, and I get to see him after so many years. Even though a dark shadow hangs over me because of the crap I’ve been through and Rachel’s illness, my heart beats faster for the man I’ve loved most of my life.
We climb out of the vehicle, and I join Lainey as we walk into the mansion. “Mom, we’re home!” she shouts.
“Out here,” Rachel replies from the direction of the veranda.
