“It’s a house. We’ll sell it, and you can buy one here. I want you to be surrounded by the people that make you happy.”
“Well, first and foremost, that’s you.”
Sydney had been thinking about it a lot, though she was trying not to rush into any decisions. Her parents in Stoneport was just another check in a column that was quickly overflowing with positives.
“And I’ll be around, I promise.” She gave her mom a slightly self-satisfied smile. “And regardless of where I live, if I’m dating Reese, I’ll be around a lot.”
“So you’re saying I should be nicer to your girlfriend, then?”
Her grin spread wider across her face. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
“Well then,” her mom said, matching Sydney’s smile, “I guess we should get that dinner scheduled soon. Is humble pie on the menu?”
Sydney stood up and walked around to the back of her mom’s chair before wrapping her long arms around her in a hug. “No promises, but I’ll at least make sure they have crow.”
Eighteen
Reese had stopped tryingto make sense of the last two weeks. At this point, she was just going with it.
Which is how, on a casual Saturday, she found herself in the small dining room at the inn with Hallie, her mom, and Sydney’s mom, Rachel.
“Do you think Sydney is having FOMO?” Hallie asked before shoveling a large bite of lobster roll, one of the inn’s specialties, into her mouth.
“She probably wasn’t until you just sent her a barrage of group photos,” Reese said at the same time she kept an eye on the line of sight she had to the check-in desk.
But Hallie beat her to it, standing up and scurrying off when she noticed a guest heading to checkout.
Really, she’d never expected this would be where her life would end up. A healthy relationship with her mother, who still, two weeks later, hadn’t relented and returned to her father. She and Hallie were better than ever at working in sync, and she was proud of herself for the rhythm they’d developed. But the dark horse of the month was Rachel King, who, after their first meeting, was like an entirely differentperson with her.
She had a sneaking suspicion that she had Sydney to thank for that, but an admission, even under duress, had not been forthcoming.
Her mom and Rachel were in a heated conversation about something insignificant that had happened in Stoneport more than twenty years ago, so she could easily slip her phone out of her pocket when she felt it vibrate.
Sydney King - 2:15 p.m.
I feel like your mom shouldn’t have bothered moving back home, given all the time she’s spending at the inn
Reese Devereux - 2:15 p.m.
Is this your way of saying you feel left out? I owe Hallie five bucks. I didn’t think you’d admit it.
Sydney King - 2:15 p.m.
I feel… like I’m in a parallel universe. All of you together, and I’m waiting in hair and makeup to do a dry run for tomorrow’s start
Sydney had been gone since Wednesday, heading to the event early to prepare for her first time as a commentator. There was no doubt in Reese’s mind that she’d kill it once the matches started, but she did understand how it all must feel a little absurd to someone who used to compete there as an athlete.
Reese Devereux - 2:16 p.m.
You’re going to be amazing, I have no doubt. How’s it going?
They’d talked on the phone every night since Sydney had been gone, but her schedule was generally jam-packed with screen tests, meeting the other commentators, and going over the best practices for on-air behavior.
Sydney King - 2:16 p.m.
They act like I don’t know anything about tennis! There was even a session on not accidentally making sexual innuendos!
Reese Devereux - 2:16 p.m.
