Sadie Jameson spent half the morning on the phone, pacing like a caged lion and muttering about contractors, insurance adjusters, and historical integrity, like the townhouse was an elderly aunt in need of constant medical care. He was worried about the roof cav ing in, horrified about the apparently ancient but terribly expensive building having sprung a leak like this, and steadfastly avoiding any mention of his precious vacuums. I had the day off from the shelter. By the time Laney texted asking if I wanted to grab lunch, I jumped at the opportunity. Anything to get out of the splash zone of his anxiety. “I’m going out,” I called to him halfway across his polished, cavernous foyer. Hooch was outside in the backyard, probably wreaking havoc, and my voice echoed a bit in a way that made me hyper aware of how sterile and minimalist his house really was. “I’ll see you later.” Jameson’s head popped around the corner a moment later, those hazel eyes focused on mine as his dark eyebrows lifted. “Uh, okay, but how are you getting to wherever you’re going?” “Excuse me?” He held my gaze. “There are no cabs waiting in my driveway, Sades. No subway entrances or bus stops in too many miles.” “Right.” I glanced out the window facing his front yard and realized that my days of simply running out the door were obviously over. “I’ll call an Uber.” Sighing, he pulled his phone out of his back pocket, typed out a quick message, and chuckled as he brought his gaze back to mine. “Steve’s on his way. He’ll take you. I would’ve gone to drop you off myself, but I’m just about to start filling out the paper work I need to submit.” “Okay, thanks.” I shifted awkwardly from one foot to the other. “As soon as I get my inheritance, I’ll buy a new car.” He waved me off. “I have a few. You can pick whichever one you like. We’ll go by the garage this week, okay? I should’ve thought about it last night, but with so much going on ■ — ” “It was after midnight by the time we got here. No one blames you for not thinking about it then. I didn’t even think about it now. Not until you reminded me, anyway.” He made a humming sound in the back of his throat but then inhaled de eply and nodded at the window. “Steve’s here. Have fun. Wherever you’re going.”
“Are you fishing to find out?” I teased, surprised by how easy it was to fall back into this rhythm with him whenever I wasn’t actively thinking about not doing it. “Lunch with Laney. I shouldn’t be back too late.” “Thanks, but you didn’t have to tell me. I’m not your ke eper.” “No, but you might be my husband soon. It’s common courtesy, right? Letting the person who’s supposed to be your significant other know where you’re going so they don’t worry?” He paused for a beat, head cocking slowly as if he honestly hadn’t thought about it that way. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. I’ll have to work on it, but I’m not going anywhere exc ept the office today. I shouldn’t be home too late either. Not unless something comes up.” I smiled. “See? We’re already learning.” With that, I wiggled my fingers in a wave goodbye and left. My heart fluttered as I thought back to the glint he’d just had in his eyes. Somehow, Jameson Westwood was really serious about this, making our relationsh ip work and becoming a good husband. I genuinely hadn’t known what to expect from this trial month of ours, but so far, he had surprised me at every turn. When I’d called him last night to let him know about the leak, I hadn’t meant for him to show up at midnight to fetch us. I’d wanted to te ll him about it because it was his property, and I’d been planning on sle eping on the couch with Hooch. All the way to the restaurant where Laney had asked me to meet her, I contemplated just how different he’d turned out. Watching him from a distance these last few years, I’d really thought he’d become an arrogant bad boy, a rebel without a cause who wore a smirk and a seven - thousand - dollar suit like armor and didn’t give a damn about the world around him. “We’re here, Ms. Sh epard,” Steve announced. When I looked up, I realized with a start that I’d gotten so lost in thought, I hadn’t even noticed that we’d arrived. I cleared my throat and felt my cheeks growing hot. “Thanks, Steve.” “No problem. Just text me when you’re ready and I’ll pick you up.” Before I could reach for the door handle, he was out of the car and opening the door for me, and instead of arguing that he really didn’t need to, I just said thank you. It was going to take some getting used to after all this time, but becoming a Westwood would mean acc epting help from their employees with grace rather than resistance. When I walked into the modest little cafe near her store, I shoved Jameson out of my mind. This afternoon was about spending time with my friend. I spotted Laney immediately but frowned when I realized she seemed slightly green as her gaze skimmed across t he menu. “Are you okay?” I asked when I reached her. “You don’t look so great. Morning sickness?”
She lifted her eyes to mine. “Try morning, noon, and night sickness. It never ends. Sterling says he’s sure it’ll be over soon, but I don’t know. It seems to have settled in for the long haul.” “Should we just get out of here?” I offered. “We don’t need to be in a restaurant to spend time together, and frankly, I’m sure the staff would appreciate it if you leave before you hurl all over the table.” She let out a bark of laughter but quickly snapped her mouth shut and shot me a pained grimace. After swallowing hard, she sighed and pushed her chair back. “Yeah, okay. Let’s go. I need ginger tea and my couch. This wasn’t a great idea. I’m sorry.” “Why?” I chuckled. “I like your penthouse and I wasn’t hungry anyway.” Sympathy rolled through me. Laney mumbled an apology to our server next. I looped my arm around hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze, half - dragging her out into the bright afternoon light. As we spilled out on the sidewalk, I took the keys to Sterling’s prized jaguar and ushered Laney into the passenger seat. Then I drove her back to their penthouse as quickly but smoothly as I could. Once we were there, I took her purse and hung it up, fetched her some water and turned on the kettle for that ginger tea she’d mentioned. She collapsed on the couch with a groan, clutching her stomach like it was plotting her demise. “Can I get you anything else?” I asked, feeling so desperately bad for her that I would have broken into a spontaneous dance routine if it would’ve distracted her enough to help her feel better. “When is Sterling getting home?” “Tonight. Thank God.” She cracked a weak smile. “I never thought it was possible to miss a man so much, but I really can’t wait until he gets back.” I laughed. “So it’s not true what they say about living with men, then? It’s not all ball - scratching, TV - hogging misery?” “Not all of it.” She chuckled and leaned back, soft gray eyes studying me for a moment before she took a sip of her water. Our companionable silence lasted only another beat after she’d swallowed. To her credit, she hadn’t brought it up until now, but with the kind of careful curiosity only a true friend could pull off, she finally steered the conversation to my engagement. “S houldn’t you know that by now? You’ve been living with Jamie, haven’t you?”
“Not really,” I admitted after a slow inhale. “I moved into his townhouse, but he didn’t. For some reason, he’s been insisting on sle eping at his main house. Hooch and I sl ept there for the first time last night, and that was only because the townhouse spr ung a pretty impressive leak. We’ll be back there as soon as it’s fixed, I’m sure.” “Why?” she asked. “Why not just move into his main house?” “I don’t think he really likes having people there,” I mused. “At least, that’s the feeling I got, but we’ll see.” Laney frowned but seemed to realize I didn’t have answers about this. “How’s it been going otherwise? Full disclosure, Callum told me you and Jamie used to date.” “Tattle tale,” I grumbled, but then I sighed and moved my gaze slowly back to hers. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you myself. I guess I got so used to ke eping the secret that ■ — ” “You don’t have to explain anything to me,” she said with a soft smile on her lips. “It must be making all this pretty difficult for you, though. I’m here if you need to talk.” I hesitated, but I’d been desperate to talk to someone about this. Since Laney apparently knew the truth now, that meant I finally had someone to talk to who would understand. The next thing I knew, the words were just streaming out. “It sure hasn’t been easy. I can tell you that much, but I don’t really know what else to say. Some days, I think all those old feelings are still there, but then I wonder what the hell I’m doing and why I’m putting my heart squarely back on the chopping b lock.” “That’s fair,” she said. “Callum couldn’t tell me why it ended between you two back in the day, and we don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to, but I just thought I’d offer to listen if you do. I think it’s okay to be confused, though.” Relief sw ept through me, so intense that it nearly brought tears to my eyes. “Yeah? Do you really think so? Because he seems so sure and so... not afraid.” She chuckled. “Do you want to go look through my closet while we talk? I heard you guys were coming to dinner tomorrow night and you kind of look like you need something to ke ep you distracted while we’re talking about this.” I shot up, feeling a bit like red ants were crawling underneath my skin. “That’s a great idea. I haven’t even thought about what I’ll wear. Most of my wardrobe consists of jeans that smell like wet dog and shirts that look like they’ve survived a nuclear a pocalypse.” “Don’t worry. We’ll find you something upstairs. Sterling ke eps buying me clothes, and if it’s got his approval, I’m sure it’ll have his family’s as well.”
“Still not much of a shopper yourself?” I asked, watching her push herself carefully to her feet. “God, I’ve wished that bug would bite me, but it just never has.” She laughed. “Much to my husband’s disappointment, I don’t think it’s ever going to bite me either. I don’t know why it means so much to him, but he’s trying to acc ept that he’s the shopper in our relationship.” I followed her to the kitchen. “You should spend his money. It’ll make him feel like he’s taking care of you.” “He is taking care of me.” She winked at me as she made her tea. “In lots of ways that are so much more fun than standing in a boutique.” Groaning through my laughter, I pretended to press my ears closed with my fingers. “I didn’t need to hear that.” A few minutes later, we were in her gigantic walk - in closet, a ridiculous, full - sized room that smelled faintly of vanilla and new leather. Laney sat on a little velvet bench, ginger tea cradled between her hands, watching as I eyed dresses that probably c ost more than my current car. “I heard your parents were coming to dinner,” she said. “Does that mean you’re on better terms with them now?” “Nope.” Laney didn’t know much about my relationship with them and I flipped through the dresses, feeling a little sick to my stomach myself now. “Let’s just say they’re coming because Harlan invited them. It’s got nothing to do with me. What did you wear to your first Westwood family dinner?” She arched an eyebrow at me and scoffed. “I was so nervous, I don’t even remember if I wore anything at all. It was different for me, though. I was already married to him by the time I met them.” I nodded slowly. Laney was probably the only person in this city right now who knew exactly what I was going through. Just a few months ago, she’d been forced to marry Sterling or risk losing everything. It had worked out really well for them, but Jameson and I had the extra complication of having been together before, and it really hadn’t ended well. “That’s fair, but if you just put the emphasis of that sentence in a different place, you were already married by the time you met them. There was no way for anyone to stop it from happening anymore and it was past the point where Sterling could change his mind. You also didn’t have a history with him. Why am I suddenly jealous?”
“Don’t be.” She laughed but tilted her head. Her assessing gaze let me know she hadn’t missed the meaning behind what I’d just said. “If Jameson seems so sure and unafraid, why would you think he’s going to change his mind?” “Because he’s done it before.” I pulled out a mint green dress, studying it much too intently as I tried to find the right words. My pulse was racing. Even my hands were suddenly trembling. “He broke my heart, Lane. Badly. Cracked it right in half and then ground up the pieces under the heel of his expensive boot. That’s why I’m worried. Our track record hasn’t exactly instilled confidence in his ability to go the distance.” “He broke up with you?” Her eyes widened. “For some reason, I thought it was the other way around. The way he looked at you at the garden party where you and I first met? I don’t know. He k ept staring and looking like he was about to faint, and you didn’t even glance in his direction once.” “Y ep. It’s called self - preservation.” I let out a long sigh and hung the dress back up. “It came out of nowhere, our breakup.” Drawing in a breath, I abandoned all pretense of trying to find a dress and dropped into the little velvet chair beside hers. Propping my elbows on my knees, I leaned forward and absently stared at all the fabric in front of me, but I wasn’t really seeing it anymore. The memories took over. My voice was soft and unsteady when I finally found it again. “Everything was going so well and then suddenly, the next day, it wasn’t going at all. It hurt like hell. It took me a long time to acc ept that he was gone. That it was o ver.” I glanced at her. “Ever since, I’ve been avoiding any event where he might be. I didn’t want to see him. At first, I knew I wouldn’t be able to bear it and then it sort of just became a habit, I guess.” “Why did you come to the garden party, then?” she asked gently but curiously. “You.” I managed to laugh through the tears pressing against the backs of my eyes. “I’d been hearing all these stories and rumors about Sterling’s new wife and you sounded like the kind of person I wanted to know, so I went.” I sniffed and let my head drop forward. “Most people think I hate my parents’ lifestyle. Their circles. But that’s not entirely true. I’m just always on the lookout for the good people in those circles. When I heard about you, I figured it was worth a shot . I could dip my toe back in the water, maybe make a friend, and appease my family all in one fell swoop.”
“Well, I’m glad you did.” She smiled and reached out to squeeze my hand. “I’m sure it was really freaking hard for you to get in your car that day, knowing you were going to see Jameson and walk back into a world you don’t seem to like very much.” “I don’t,” I confessed quietly. “It felt like it was time to face him again, though. On my own terms. After the way we left things, it’s just always felt like unfinished business. I was hoping that seeing him would give me a sense of closure, but instead, I somehow ended up engaged to the guy. It’s crazy.” “It’s not crazy. It’s life.” A very particular kind of knowing gleam shimmered in her eyes. “Look at me, for example. One day, I’m just a struggling business owner — well not even a half - owner but whatever — and a couple weeks later, I’m a Westwood. I woke up one morning, hopped on a trolley, and went to marry an amazing man, who happens to be a freaking billionaire.” Something in my chest eased. “I knew you would understand. Part of me ke eps wondering if Jameson is going to pull the rug out from under me again. It’s really flipping hard to trust that he’s going to follow through this time. Seeing my brother tomorrow co uld change his mind. Or he could remember why he didn’t think I was worth it the first time.” “You are so completely worth it and he knows that, Sadie.” Her brow furrowed, her gaze kind and patient as she leaned forward and put her mug down. “CC is already planning the wedding because he insisted. To me, it seems like he’s very much made up his min d and he’s not the type to back out just because Trent makes a face at him. When Westwood men decide they’re doing something, there’s no power on earth that can stop them.” I laughed weakly, but the humor didn’t quite reach my chest. “Maybe, but it didn’t feel like he was going to back out before either. It doesn’t help that I’m still not even completely sure what happened. All I know is that Trent said something and Jameson decided our relationship wasn’t worth the risk to their friendship.” “A lot of things change in ten years,” she said thoughtfully. “I didn’t know him back then, but I’d like to think he’s grown up. He sure does seem intent on following through this time.” “Yeah, but I had to get over him once and I did. I’m not sure I’ll be able to do it again.” “You know, I had a very similar fear about Sterling,” she admitted after a beat. “I was so afraid that I would never be able to get over the heartbreak if I fell for him and he didn’t feel the same way.” “So what did you do?” “I let him prove it to me.” She looked right into my eyes. “Give Jameson a chance to do the same. I think he’s going to surprise you.”
“I’ll think about it.” I pushed to my feet, exhausted after opening up that way, and drifted back over to a rail of dresses. Thankfully, Laney seemed to realize I couldn’t ke ep going and quickly changed the subject. “Hey, you know the other day when you were telling me about how badly the adoption numbers at the shelter have declined?” I winced. “Y ep. Don’t remind me.” She chuckled. “What about if I think I might be able to help? Can I remind you then?” Immediately, my spine straightened and my chin lifted, the uncertainty and heaviness in my soul banished by the hope in her eyes. Because if Laney had hope, then so did I. “What’s your plan?” “Baby Blossom is having a Back to School festival,” she explained. “What if the shelter did an adoption fair there? Bring a few kittens, some puppies, and show people what the organization is all about.” The idea sparked something in me I hadn’t felt in weeks — raw optimism. “That could actually be amazing. Even if we only found a few homes, it would still be worth it just to help us get the word out.” “Then it’s settled.” Laney grinned, and for a second, she didn’t look sick at all, just excited. “I’ll talk to the event coordinator.” “Thank you,” I said, my voice catching around the words. “For all of this, and for listening.” “Don’t thank me yet,” she teased. “Wait until the puppies pee on the photo booth and you’ve got to clean it up, but as for the other stuff, you’re welcome. I’m always going to be here for you.” As she and I chatted about the fair, it felt like maybe everything really would turn out okay, but once I was on my way back to Jameson’s house, that same old worry coiled quietly in my chest. Adoption fair aside, I still had to face my family tomorrow nig ht and it wasn’t just a dinner. It was walking right back into the eye of a storm I’d barely survived the first time, and trusting that this time Jameson wouldn’t let go of my hand or grind my heart to dust at the very moment I was most vulnerable.