“I love it.”
“Perfect. I always make too much.”
“No, please. I’m really not going to stay. I don’t want to intrude. I just really need to speak with Ria.” Her voice is shaky and rushed, and her eyes dart quickly around the room. She looks absolutely terrified.
“You aren’t intruding, trust me,” I say calmly with a warm smile. “But I’ll just see where Ri is, okay?”
“I could go to the office to see her, if she is still there.” She goes to move and Nila grumbles.
“I think your job is to stay right there. You can’t move once she is on you.”
Reaching into my pocket, I take out my phone and quickly send a message to Ria.
Leo - Baby where are you?
Ria - Sorry, the auditors left half an hour ago. I’m in an uber I’ll be five minutes tops.
Leo - Good because Trixie is here.
Ria - Trixie?
Leo - Yep, and she doesn’t seem herself. Needs to speak with you.
Ria - I’ll be there as quick as I can
“Ria is nearly home. So you don’t need to rush off,” I say, popping my phone back into my sweats and moving to put the noodles on the stove.
“Thank you,” she says but doesn’t look up as she keeps fussing over Nila.
Keeping myself busy, I continue with making dinner and silently beg Ria to hurry. The front door swings open exactly five minutes later, and Ria rushes in, her heels clicking on the wooden floors.
“Hi, sorry that took so long. They were being very thorough this quarter. Oh my, are you cooking pad Thai? My favorite.” Placing her laptop on the island, she kisses me on the cheek as I keep tossing the noodles, and my heart leaps at how normal this is for us now.
“There’s wine in the fridge. Do you want a glass?” I call out as she opens the fridge.
“Nope, water is fine.” Taking out a bottle, she comes to sit next to Trixie. “I see you have my girl.”
“She’s my girl,” I call over my shoulder.
“That’s what he thinks,” she whispers loudly as she tickles under Nila’s chin, and Trixie laughs but it quickly turns into sobs as she covers her face with her hands.
“Oh, God. I’m so sorry,” she wails.
“Don’t be silly,” Ria soothes as she rubs circles on her back. “You’ve got nothing to be sorry for.”
“I shouldn’t be here, but I’ve got nowhere else to go right now.” She looks up at Ria, tears streaming down her face.
“You are always welcome here, Trixie. But sweetie, what’s happened?”
“H-he,” she stutters, continuously wiping away tears. “Ezra kicked me out.”
Chapter 48
Ria
“He did what? Why?” My hand pauses on her back as I stare at her blankly.
“It doesn’t matter; that’s not important. It’s not why I’m here.” She shakes herself off and tugs her coat tighter around her, the movement causing Nila to grumble and jump off her lap.
