Page 147 of The Rules of Dating

Billie

Is it just me or is the sun shining brighter today?

Colby wanted me to spend the night at his place yesterday, but I insisted he take Saylor home alone and decompress. I’d promised we’d get together tonight instead. Giving him space, even if he didn’t want it, was the right call. What he’d been through—thinking Saylor had been kidnapped—was traumatic as hell. I wanted him to spend quality time with her and not worry about me. Because if I knew Colby, he would’ve spent last night trying to make up for lost time and apologizing for everything.

I was grateful that I’d only found out about the false alarm after the fact. Believing Saylor could have been in harm’s way would have given me a heart attack. I’d been so confused when Maya had dropped her off at my shop. I still couldn’t get over the fact that Colby had to spend those minutes thinking Maya had fled with his precious little girl.

But today was a new day.

With Maya headed back to Ecuador—not far enough, if you ask me—the worst seemed to be over. But I knew there was still a lot looming. We didn’t know whether Maya’s confession would clear Colby of wrongdoing. He was still responsible for trying to deceive the authorities, even if she had been holding a virtual gun to his head. So part of me was still holding my breath.

As I readied to leave the shop and head upstairs after my last client, Deek wished me well.

“Hey,” he said. “You finally made it to the other side of that freaking mess. So try to enjoy tonight, alright? Save the heavy discussions for another time. You guys deserve some peace. Just enjoy each other.”

“Thank you. I’m gonna try.”

“And I called your appointments tomorrow and personally let them know I’m gonna take care of them. Just enjoy the night and sleep in. Take the day off.”

Still on cloud nine, I agreed—which was so unlike me. “I’m not even gonna argue with you, Deek.”

He winked. “You’re learning.”

“Thank you, my friend.” I hugged him goodbye.

As I took the elevator up to have dinner with Colby and Saylor, I felt oddly jittery. It had been a while since I’d been at their apartment. And Saylor still didn’t know the true reason I’d been away. I’d gotten a vibe from her last night that she felt a bit cautious around me, as if she wasn’t sure to trust that I wouldn’t leave them again. She hadn’t been as excited to see me as I’d thought she might have been. It was understandable, but it sucked to have to earn her trust back. Was I supposed to act like nothing had happened? I felt like I owed her more of an explanation for why I’d been gone. But any explanation would be a lie, and I wasn’t comfortable with that, either. Maybe less would be more.

I knocked on the door, but it wasn’t Colby who answered.

Brayden stood there instead, and my first reaction was panic.

“Brayden, what’s going on?”

“Hey, Billie.” He smiled. “You look worried to see me. Don’t be.”

“Is everything okay?”

Before he could answer, Saylor came running toward me. “Billie!”

I knelt and extended my arms wide, so happy that she seemed more excited than yesterday. “Hey, sweetie! How are you?”

She hugged me. “Are you back now?”

“I am, honey.”

Saylor squeezed me tighter. “Good!”

“Where’s Daddy?” I asked her.

“I don’t know.” She shrugged, but seemed to be stifling a smile.

I narrowed my eyes. “You don’t know?”

She bounced on her feet. “I’m not supposed to tell you we made pizza for you, and Daddy took it with him!”

Now I was even more confused. “Pizza for me?”

“Thanks a lot, Saylor.” Brayden laughed.