Page 309 of The Romance Adventure

When I got the job offer from Appeal, I thought it was a sign that I’d gotten off track. That the life I’d originally envisioned for myself was still available and wanted me back.

That I could still make a name for myself, achieve financial success and respect, and reach the top in my field. To show Luke that I’m strong, capable, and the kind of mom who can do it all.

But at what cost?

Seated in the sand with Luke picking up fistfuls and watching it sift through his pudgy fingers, I feel like the last weeks of my life are crumbling and soon they’ll wash away.

Someone drops onto the sand beside me. For a moment, I’m afraid it’s Ryan, but he’s never been the type to run after a girl. No, he’s used them chasing him.

It’s Heather, and Harper sits down on my other side. Luke climbs into my lap.

“This is very off-brand,” Heather says.

“Yeah, you don’t sit contemplatively in the sand, gazing into the middle distance. In fact, you’ve hardly stopped moving since we got here or taken your eyes off Ryan,” Harper says.

“It’s about him, isn’t it?” Heather asks.

I nod and then sniffle.

“Did he break your heart?” Harper asks.

“You know our sister better than that. No, she’s the heartbreaker,” Heather corrects.

I nod, then shake my head. “I don’t know.”

They both rub circles on my back as the sobs break loose. Luke twists to face me and then tries licking the tears away.

We all erupt into laughter. I tell them the story and how everything has happened so fast from the Romance Game, to the dough-posal, to things feeling anything but fake between us.

“A little voice in my head told me Ryan could be another Givenator. That I have to do everything myself, to prove to⁠—”

“Prove to whom?” Harper asks.

I shrug. “To myself?”

“And haven’t you already? Look at this little guy. He’s amazing. You’re a wonderful mom and working or not doesn’t change that. You could go back to your old job and love this boy to bits. You could stay here and we’d all love him to bits,” Heather says.

We all chuckle.

“You know which side we’re on,” Harper says. “Yours, no matter what you decide, but we’d rather you’re here, of course.”

Heather pats my hand. “But I don’t think this has as much to do with Ryan as you’re telling yourself. He’s proven that he’s changed. You’ve changed. You’re good together. I think there’s an old fear hanging around and that’s the problem.”

“And you know what we say about fear,” Harper says.

“We do?” Heather and I ask at the same time.

Harper smirks. “Yeah, we chop it up into itty bitty, teeny tiny pieces and feed it to the sharks.”

“Is that what you tell your kids?” Heather’s brow furrows.

“Because if so, it’s kind of scary,” I add.

We laugh again and it feels better than crying. And that’s one of the best things about Ryan and me, we laugh a lot.

Heather grins. “She has that look.”

“The gleam is back.”