I take a deep breath, considering my answer. “It’s been a lot to adjust to, but Alec… he’s been there, every step of the way. I think… I think this is exactly where I need to be, even if it’s not always easy.”She nods, squeezing my hand. “You’ve grown so much, Isadora. I’m proud of you. And if Alec makes you feel safe, then you’re right where you belong.”A warmth fills my chest, and I squeeze her hand back, grateful for her support, for this small moment of clarity amid all the uncertainties.The conversation eventually drifts back to lighter topics, and I feel myself relaxing, letting go of some of the tension that’s been building since Alec’s message. It’s moments like these, with my family around me, that remind me of why I chose this path. Why, despite everything, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.It’s early evening when the silence begins to feel suffocating. The hours have crawled by with no word from Alec. My family has tried to keep the mood light, pulling out familiar st
IsadoraWaking up with Alec wrapped around me is probably the last thing I ever thought I’d find myself getting used to, but here we are. His arm is draped over my waist, his face is buried against my neck, and his steady, warm breath caresses my skin. And the worst part? I’m not even mad about it.I try to stay perfectly still, just lying there, marveling at how a guy who used to make my life hell could feel so… right. My brain is still catching up, replaying every stolen look and reckless decision from last night. I’d barely closed the front door before he’d pinned me to it, and we started all over again. And now, as the morning light starts peeking through the windows, I’m dangerously close to thinking I could get used to waking up like this. I could stay like this all day.But Alec has other plans.His arm around me tightens, pulling me a fraction closer. “You’re awake.” His voice is rough and low, and his lips brush against my shoulder in a way that sends a shiver straight down m
“Think I can get a signed copy if I stop by around that time?”My head tilted. “Sure, but it won’t be for another few months.”“I plan to continue visiting Nicole, so I might be in town around that time. Would that be okay with you?”“Yes, of course. You can come by any time.”He beamed. “Okay, great.”I took another sip. “Are you excited about the wedding?”“I’m excited for Nicole’s sake. Weddings aren’t my thing, but I enjoy watching my sister get what she wants out of life. If there’s anyone who deserves it, it’s her.”“That’s sweet.”“It’s the truth,” he said. “What about you? Are you excited?”“Yes, but also no. I don’t like being the center of attention, so walking down the aisle will be embarrassing.”He chuckled. “Yeah, I’m not excited about that part either.” He winked. “At least we’ll have each other.”My cheeks heated. “That’s true.” Chris sprung to my mind again as I thought about the fact that he would be walking down the aisle with Anna. I didn’t know if he liked her the
SAV“Are you okay?”Lucas asked for the tenth time as we stood in the waiting area of Bernard’s, a fancy French restaurant in the town across the lake from Carswell.He could tell something was bothering me, but I didn’t want to talk about it. Talking about it meant thinking about it, and I didn’t want that either.I wanted to remove my brain from my body and place it on a shelf for later, so I could be present and enjoy my evening with a man who didn’t churn up a hundred confusing feelings inside me.“Yep. I’m fine.” I made a show of looking around the restaurant. The dining room had low lighting and see-through walls separating the sections. The tables were well-spaced apart with white tablecloths. A circular bar sat in the center of the restaurant with multiple nicely dressed bartenders making drink orders.All the staff looked polished and professional, making me feel like Lucas might have been pulling out all the stops on this first date.I liked the idea of being cherished and ca
She cried harder. “Thank you. Thank you.”We discussed the details involving sending them money. I was emotionally drained by the time the phone call was finished. She told me she loved me toward the end, and I didn’t have the emotional capacity to say it back. Why say it, when I wasn’t even sure I felt it?---After finishing work, I went to see Sav. I was determined to talk to her and smooth things over.I wasn’t sure I could keep myself from taking things as far as Sav would let me, but I didn’t want it to happen when she was so vulnerable.I didn’t want it to be something she might regret when she felt stronger.I entered the bookstore and found Jackson right away. He was rearranging the displays at the front of the store. “You’re looking better.”He beamed. “Yep. Sav finally let me come back to work.”“She’s a tough one,” I joked. “Where is she by the way? I wanted to talk to her about the coffee bar.” I didn’t really, but I’d had the excuse ready.“She’s in the office,” he said.
CHRISMy phone buzzedon my work desk. I glanced down to see my mom was calling and quirked an eyebrow. She didn’t usually call me, especially during work hours when she knew I was probably at the office. The last time we spoke was months ago on Christmas while I spent it alone at home.A knock at my open door luckily saved me from the phone call. Unfortunately, it was Dylan. He’d been avoiding me since I snapped at him nearly a week ago. Why did everyone feel the need to confront me on a Friday afternoon?“Yes?” I asked.“Hi, Mr. Warner—”“It’s okay to call me Chris,” I said, leaning back in my chair.His cheeks reddened. “Okay, Chris. I wanted to ask if you were offering overtime again this weekend. The money has been helping a lot, and I don’t want to be excluded because of what happened last weekend. I promise I wasn’t flirting with Ms. Sparks. We were talking. That’s it. I have a girlfriend.”My eyes shifted closed for a moment. Great, I created this problem by not thinking before