“Anything for you guys.”
“Anyway, let’s try and have a good time. It’s my one night off, and I want to dig into that baklava platter.”
We had a couple hours of fun to ourselves, sharing inside jokes and joining in on some dances before calling it quits. I went to bed with a mixture of feelings—devastation over losing Lindsey and sadness for my best friend. At the very least, it comforted us to know Lindsey wouldn’t be in pain anymore.
I also couldn’t help but feel a flutter of butterflies at the thought of seeing William again. Would he look the same? Would he recognize me? Was he still the same sweet boy I once knew?
Chapter 3
Nairie
A few days later, Lindsey took a turn for the worse. She was less responsive, her breathing became erratic, and the part-time hospice nurse confirmed it was time. I called Elspeth’s extended family, inviting whoever could come to say their last goodbyes. I rang William and Angus as a courtesy, knowing they’d never be able to make it in time, but I wanted to save Elspeth from having to break the news. Neither picked up, so I left a voicemail and continued to sit beside my friend as we watched her once effervescent mother peacefully drift away one Saturday afternoon.
I held Elspeth as we silently cried together, knowing neither of us would be the same.
The days leading up to the burial flew by and slowed to a standstill at the same time. Elspeth tried to put on a brave face, focusing her full attention on the bar. I didn’t fight her on it. I just let her do what she needed to do. I cooked her favorite dinners and let her choose whatever Netflix show she wanted to watch. At night, whenever I would hear Elle crying from the other room, I’d hold her until she’d fall asleep.
I grieved, too, but couldn’t take much time off work at my parents’ jewelry store. They liked Elspeth and her mom but didn’t understand how I’d become so attached to a family outside of our own. Armenians werea tight-knit community, and everyone who wasn’t in it was considered “outsiders.” But my parents still respected Lindsey. They knew she was a good woman and a great mom.
The night before the funeral, I organized the house so we wouldn’t have to worry about coming back to a messy space after the wake.
We were waiting for dinner to finish cooking and drinking tea on the couch when Elspeth reached over and grabbed my hand. “Hey, have I ever told you how amazing you are?”
I looked over at her and smiled. “Yes, every day.”
“Well, I’m saying it again. Thanks for taking care of me and Mom. I really don’t know what I would have done without you.”
I smiled and hugged my friend. We’d been through everything together, and I knew Elspeth would do the same for me.
“You’ve been so strong, but I want you to know it’s okay to lean on me, too. I feel like you take on so much.”
I shrugged. “I’m good. I can handle it.”
Elspeth looked at me with doubt. “Well, when you’re ready to talk, I’m here. In the meantime, I thought of the best way to repay you.”
“Ugh, you don’t owe me anything. How many times do I have to tell you?”
“Too late. It’s already here.”
There was a knock on the door, and Elspeth motioned with her head for me to answer.
I called over my shoulder. “I swear if it’s a vibrator from Amazon, I’m going to kill you.”
I pulled open the door, and William stood before me looking tired, surprised, and hot as hell all at once.He was far different from the twenty-one-year-old I saw last. He had a beard now, and his brown hair was grown and curled behind his ears. William was twenty pounds heavier with muscle, and his tall, broad stature towered over me in the doorway. He still had the same dark green eyes, except now his nose was slightly crooked, and he had a scar above his left eyebrow. Not to mention the plethora of tattoos that spanned across his arms and hands.
The term biker pirate came to mind as I stood with my mouth open and quickly closed it.
His strong jaw clenched, and he cleared his throat.
“Nairie?” His gravelly voice rolled my name in his Scottish brogue.
I blinked, dumbfounded. “Hi, William. I’m so sorry I didn’t recognize you for a second.”
“Thought I was the Amazon delivery driver?”
If I could evaporate into nothingness at that moment, I would. William had overheard me talking about vibrators.
I grimaced. “Uh . . . yeah.”
