“I’m sorry you walked in?—”
“It’s okay,” Brit replied. “Your house.”
“I was reading my romance book, and Hawk loves when I read to him.”
Brit closed her laptop. “What are you talking about?”
“I have a favorite romance author. Anyway, I’ve read all her books, but Nicholas hasn’t. Sometimes, I read the spicy parts to him.”
More laughter from Brit. “Clearly, it’s working. Who’s the author?”
“Stoni Alexander. Hawk even arranged for me to meet her.”
“That was nice of him. Did you thank her for providing you with sexy stories?”
“I don’t think so, but Nicholas might have.”
“Well, is it safe to go downstairs? I’m starving.”
“Yes, but I wanted to tell you something. I talked to Mom today.”
Addison’s stomach dropped.
“I’m meeting her for dinner tomorrow,” Addison continued. “Please, please,pleasecome with me.”
“Yuck.”
“Aren’t you curious?”
“Nope.” Brit pushed out of bed. “And if you don’t stop talking about her, I’ll lose my appetite.”
The sisters went downstairs, and Addison fixed Brit a plate of leftovers. While they sat together at the kitchen island, Hawk moseyed in.
“Sorry about the interruption,” Brit said.
“Don’t sweat it,” he replied.
But Brit knew the time had come for her to move out.
The following evening,Brit sailed into the upscale, boutique hotel in Northwest DC, pausing at the front desk to ask directions to the restaurant.
The Bohemian-styled hotel had the coolest, sexiest vibe. An eclectic mix of new and old that blended well together.
With every step, the day’s frustration melted away. As she passed the lounge, she wanted to relax on a purple sofa with a cocktail. Unfortunately, she didn’t have time for that. After this obligatory dinner, she needed to start her online search for an apartment.
She entered the restaurant and sighed. It was classy, chic, yet the vibe was total chill. Dark walls absorbed the light from the stunning chandeliers hanging overhead while faux candles flickered on every table and booth. Black tablecloths and servers dressed in all black added to its charm.
After checking in with the maître d’, Brit was escorted to a cozy booth. Addison faced out. Liliana, her former mother, had her back to her.
As she approached, Addison made eye contact. With a smile, she stood, offered her a quick hug.
“I’m glad you could make it,” Addison said. “This is Liliana Krause.”
Brit peered over at her mother. Memories flooded her mind, but the woman sitting there looked nothing like what she remembered. Her mom had been a brunette, average weight. This woman had blonde hair and carried a lot of extra pounds.
“Britain, you’ve become a beautiful woman.” Then, Liliana offered a rueful smile. “I’m sad that I would have walked past my own daughters.”
Brit sat beside her sister and tried to smile at the woman across the booth. But no smile came.
