Jonathan: MacGregor called. I’m so relieved, babe.
Mags: I know! So happy for my sister. That crazy woman needs to be locked away again. I can’t wait to hear the story of how she got out in the first place.
Jonathan: MacGregor said he would keep us informed. Which means the grouchy bastard will tell Dad, and Dad will call me.
Mags: I’d better get ready. The more work I get done today the sooner you can wine and dine me later.
She couldn’t quite hide the flinch that tightened her mouth.
She did need to get to work—but there was a stop to make first. One Jonathan didn’t know about.
The thought sat uneasily in her chest. She hated keeping things from him, hated the idea of even a small deception between them. But if he knew she was meeting Rory for coffee before heading to the gallery, it would turn into something bigger than it needed to be.
He’d be upset. Protective. Maybe even try to stop her.
And that…wasn’t something she would accept.
Rory deserved an apology. From her. Especially after what he’d confessed. It hadn’t been fair to leave things as they were—not after nearly three years together. She might never have loved him the way he’d wanted, the way she loved Jonathan, but she had cared. Deeply enough that walking away without closure felt wrong.
Still, the secrecy bothered her.
If she’d told Jonathan, he would have insisted on being there—or worse, tried to forbid it altogether. Neither option sat well with her. This was something she needed to do on her own.
Even if it meant facing the consequences later.
Jonathan: Love you, babe. You realize that with that woman being found, you don’t have to live with Eze anymore.
Mags: Mentally packing my bags now. Daniel better find a two-bedroom for him and Blair. See you later!
She sighed as she set her phone on the table next to her abandoned toast, catching Eze giving her a disapproving look.
“You shouldn’t keep secrets.”
She leaned her head back in frustration. “Ugh, why did I tell you? You keep plenty of secrets,” she replied with snark.
Eze merely raised his supercilious brows. “Not from those I love.” He glanced over his shoulder at Nasir, who for one moment looked as though Eze had handed him the whole world with those five words.
Mags huffed in irritation, knowing he was right. “Fine. I’ll tell Jon tonight over drinks. He can’t be mad at something that’s already done and dusted.” Eze didn’t bother to look up from the equation he was diligently working on. A clear sign of censure.
Mags stood and gathered her breakfast things and moved to the kitchen, ignoring Eze’s continuing disapproval.
“I’ll miss you today, Nasir, but I’m glad they found the woman.” After rinsing her mug, she hoisted her heavy tote lounging like a fat cat on the counter and headed out. “Behave today, boys,” she teased, tapping Nasir’s back on the way out. The stoic bodyguard’s choked cough made her smile.
“Thank you for meeting me, Rory,” Mags said while giving her ex an awkward side hug.
Mags arrived a few minutes early and already had coffee and scones waiting on a small two-person table. Her nerves hadkicked in on the walk to the bakery, cursing Eze for making her doubt the merit of her plan.
She would be so pissed if Jonathan met an ex-girlfriend without telling her first, and even though she had nothing but good intentions, she’d finally come to the conclusion that she wasn’t being fair to Jonathan. She would definitely call him the moment she left the bakery and ask for forgiveness.
“I’m glad you reached out,” Rory said solemnly.
“I was happy to. I’ve already got our coffee and a bite. I hope you don’t mind.”
“You always know what I like best.”
Regrets, thy name is Margaret.
For his part, Rory smiled warmly and hugged her to his chest. If the embrace lasted a pinch too long, she chose to swallow the familiarity and invited him to sit.
