Connor examines the expiration date on the milk. “I’ll say it.”
“Do it,” I prod.
“Daisy Meadows,” Connor puts it out there. The username she chose stirred old memories for us. We ream Ryke all the time about that possibility. Marrying her. Before, I’d shut him down. Now, it’s fun to watch him roll his eyes. And tell me to fuck off.
Ryke looks incensed as he waits for his breakfast to cook. “You two are fucking hilarious.”
“I thought we were more predictable than hilarious,” Connor says easily, trashing the milk. “But I accept both.”
I lean against the stove. “Are you going to name your kids Wild or Pony?”
“Shut the fuck up,” Ryke says lightly, and he even laughs. “Pony Meadows, really?”
“It’s nature.” I theatrically gasp like Daisy always does. “Nature is amazing.”
“You fucking suck at mimicking her.”
“Yeah, that was weak.” I watch Connor pour his coffee in a mug. He combs his hand through his wavy hair, flattening some of the thicker strands. “Hey…” My blood ices, and I hesitate to say what’s popped in my head.
But he spins around and sets his deep blue eyes on me. Waiting for me to finish.
I haven’t asked him about the article in a while, the one involving my son. It hasn’t cropped up on the internet. I assumed it was taken care of, but I’d sleep easier hearing it from him. I ask, “Did you and my dad work things out?”
“We’re not going to be best friends any time soon, but we’ve set aside our differences for now.” He takes a sip of coffee. “Turns out we have something in common.” I read his gaze that’s more open than usual, the answer clear.
They both love me.
That’s not even the strangest part. What’s crazy is that I feel worthy of love.
“So how’d you bury the article?” I ask with a frown. “Whatever it cost, I can write a check—”
“Don’t worry about it,” he says, his defenses rising, his emotions padlocked.
“Connor—”
“Lo,” he says smoothly, “trust me when I tell you that it’s taken care of. This isn’t a part of your story anymore.”
Ryke grabs his popped bagel. “Just take the easy fucking win, Lo. We all dodged a shit storm.”
Not every situation has to be a full-on drag-out battle, and if this one is easier—yeah, I’ll take it. “Thanks,” I tell Connor.
“For you, anything.”
This time when he says it, I recognize the depth to his words. I’m not sure what he did for me. With someone as guarded as Connor, I doubt I’ll ever find out. But I’m sure that it was more than I could ever give.
{ 67 }
LILY CALLOWAY
“The register is pretty simple, or if you’d rather man the expresso and coffee makers, you’re welcome to do that. I thought the comics would be more up your alley though.” I open some of the blinds on the Superheroes & Scones storefront windows. We’re closed for another two hours, but I’m guiding Willow around, Maya in tow.
“I probably shouldn’t be near hot liquids,” Willow says softly. “I can be a klutz when I’m nervous.” She adjusts the straps of her jean backpack on her arm. She still carries it around like a safety vest.
“Good to know,” I say, watching her scan the empty store, as though it’s her first time in here. Maybe as a future employee, it is. “If you don’t want a job—”
“No, I do,” she tells me quickly. “I really do. I’m just taking it all in.” She pushes up her glasses. “It’s my first time on my own…”
“Lo mentioned that to me.” I’ve never been on my own. I’ve always had him, and I can’t imagine being seventeen and deciding to journey off to another state in pursuit of happiness. It’s something Daisy would’ve done, if she grew the courage.
Willow says she’s not adventurous like my little sister, but this seems like a pretty big adventure to me.
“Your mom said that you can always go home. She left that door open for you, right…？” I trail off, distracted by a Celebrity Crush tabloid on the counter. An employee must’ve left it behind. Normally, I’d itch to read a couple headlines and flip through.
I pick up the magazine and go to trash it, doing the sensible thing. I think Ryke would be the proudest of all.
“Yeah,” Willow nods. “It’s always open.”