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“I have no idea. He just grinned and told me to wear something cute when I asked him what his plans were.”
I hook my arm through hers as we walk toward the store. “We are going to find you something to knock his freaking socks off.”
She’s bristling with nervous energy and I smile to myself as we walk into the store and we’re blasted with air-conditioned air. Mia had a pretty steady boyfriend until six months ago when he left her without much of an explanation. She was absolutely heartbroken so I’m glad to finally see her moving on. And Shaun is a good guy so no worries there.
“So,” she says, releasing my arm to grab a shirt and hold it up. “Besides never leaving the bedroom, how are things with Lincoln?”
It’s my turn to blush as I glance down at a shirt to hide my face. “Good. Really good, actually.”
“Look at you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this happy.”
I meet her eyes. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy. He’s… incredible.”
“Oh my god, your face right now… are you in love with him?”
I suck in a breath and fight back a smile. “I think I am.”
“Tate,” she whispers, grabbing my shoulder and pulling me into a hug. “I’m so fucking happy for you.”
“Me, too,” I mumble, tears stinging my eyes but for maybe the first time in my life, they’re happy tears instead of sad ones. I don’t know if it was timing or the desperate situation I found myself in when Lincoln and I first met but all the stars lined up perfectly for us and I’m head over heels in love with him. He stole a piece of me the moment he glanced up from that booth and our eyes met. In that moment, I was his even if neither one of us knew it yet.
“Let’s find you something to wear to knock him on his ass, too,” she says, pulling away and turning toward the racks. “And don’t worry about paying. I’ve got it.”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that.”
She glances over her shoulder and rolls her eyes. “Why do you always have to argue with me? I want to do this for you.”
“It’s just… I can afford to pay for it myself now.”
Turning to me, she scowls. “How?”
“After my mom died, a lawyer showed up to the house with a check for Theo and me. Apparently, she had money tucked away for us.”
“How much money?” she asks, her brow arching as she crosses her arms over her chest.
“A lot.” When she motions for me to continue, I sigh. “Almost half a million each.”
“What?” she shrieks, drawing the attention of everyone else in the store. I paste a smile on my face and wave them off before glaring at her.
“Shh.”
“Sorry,” she whispers. “But, what the fuck? Where did she get that kind of money?”
I shake my head. “I don’t have a clue.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“How the hell do I just drop that into conversation one day? Oh, hey, by the way, my mom was loaded and left her money to me.”
She nods. “Exactly like that would have worked.”
“I’m sorry, Mia. It’s all been a lot to process.”
After studying me, she sighs. “Any other secrets you’ve been keeping from me?”
Pursing my lips, I look away from her and she slaps my arm with the back of her hand.
“Spill now.”
