Page 45 of If You Love Me

“I will.”

We disconnected the call. I closed my eyes for a moment to get myself together before wiping my face and climbing down from the treehouse. When I made it back in the house, Summer Rose and Tyrion were waiting in the living room.

“Let me go change my shirt and put on my shoes,” I said.

“We’ll meet you in the car,” Tyrion answered.

I nodded as I disappeared down the hall. A few minutes later, I was settled in the front seat of his car with my purse in my lap. Tyrion put on some music, and we were on our way. The drive was quiet and didn’t take long. When we pulled in front of the school, Nina and Jersey were waiting out front. Tyrion told me this was an every morning occurrence.

“Mommy, I want you to meet my teacher,” Summer Rose said as we came to a stop.

“I’ll park and wait for you,” Tyrion offered.

I nodded as I climbed out of the car behind Summer. She ran over to hug Jersey and her godmother.

“Hey, boo.” Nina greeted me.

“Hey, girl. Hey, Jersey.”

“Hey.” She came to give me a hug with a big smile.

“You okay?” Nina asked, eyeing me suspiciously.

“We’ll talk. Summer wants me to meet her teacher.”

“I’ll call you.” She hugged me and kissed my cheek. “Love you.”

“Love you too.”

She bid the girls goodbye, and the three of us headed inside. As we passed the front office, I caught a glimpse of Iona. She looked up just in time to see us. The next thing I knew, she was calling my baby’s name.

“Summer Rose!”

She turned to see her, and a smile broke out on her face.

“Hey, Ms. Iona.”

Iona made her way over to us with open arms and scooped her up in a hug.

“I’ve missed you, sweetness.”

“I’ve missed you too.”

Iona looked at Jersey. “Hey, pretty girl.”

Jersey smiled. “Hi.”

When her eyes fell to me, her smile dimmed slightly. “Evenie.”

“Iona.”

She turned back to Summer. “I missed my singing partner this morning,” she said, pinching her cheek.

“I know. But I really wanted my mom to meet my teacher today.”

“It’s okay. We’ll have our mornings back soon enough. You have a good day, okay? You too, Jersey.”

She pulled Summer in for a hug. Our gazes met for a brief moment before she walked back into the office. Shit, I wanted to drag her. I couldn’t be in my baby’s school acting an ass, though. I could feel it in my bones that Iona and I were going to have a come to Jesus meeting before it was all said and done, and it wasn’t going to be pretty.

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