Page 21 of Delicate Storm

“For what?”

I tilt my head and raise my brows. “Get in the elevator. You were going home, remember?”

“I—” She cuts herself off and nods before moving past me to press the button. “Of course. Let’s go.”

When the doors open for a second time, I gesture for her to go first, and this time, instead of hitting me with her usual bright over-the-top grin, she smiles shyly and thanks me under her breath.

“No problem.” I nod, forcing myself to look away when a tightness fills my chest. I’ve got enough on my plate; I don’t need to start worrying about a stranger too.

We’re both silent as we travel toward our floors, and when the elevator stops on level twelve, I cut in before she can thank me again, needing to change the weird tension that’s settled between us.

“I guess you owe me another drink now,” I say, keeping a straight face.

Thankfully she laughs.

Itext my mom when I’m in front of my apartment asking if it’s safe to come in. It’s after Isaac’s bedtime, so if I go inside and he’s notquiteasleep, she’ll kill me for making him excited. I hate not seeing him, but at the same time, I know it’s important to give him a proper routine when everything else in his life is up in the air.

Like our goddamn living arrangements. I don’t want him to get used to this apartment, but at the same time, I don’t know where I want to live. My old house is a no-go zone now that I know it was ruined by Macy, and if I’m honest, even the neighborhood’s a little tainted.

Especially considering I’ve since discovered she slept with one of our neighbors as well. Three guys and counting. Something I wish I’d knownbeforegiving her an ultimatum. Because she goddamn fulfilled it, calling Isaac the next day. And now insteadof having her out of our lives for good, she’s stringing him along, when we both know she’s not in it for the long run.

But what do I do? She’s his mom and clearly going through something. So, while I refuse to help her, I can’t exactly cut her off completely. Isaac loves her.

It’s a catch-22. I don’t want to hurt him by pushing his mom out of his life, but by keeping her around, it’s setting him up for devastation.

I need to focus my energy, but at the moment, I’m spending all my time just staying afloat.

My phone buzzes, and I’m thankful I didn’t have to wait long for my mom to text back.

Mom: You’re safe. He’s asleep

Taking a deep breath, I open the door and smile when her weary eyes meet mine. “How was he?”

“We had a good day. He only asked about the witch once.”

“Mom.”

“Don’t‘Mom’me. I don’t call her that in front of Isaac, but I’m not holding back when it comes to you.”

“Fair enough.” He’d been asking about her a little less every day, but it only takes one call and she’s back in his orbit again. God, I wish I knew what was best for him. “Did he ask about me?”

“No.”

I frown and she laughs. “But he did talk about you nonstop. You’re definitely his favorite person.”

“Feeling is mutual.” I smile as my heart pounds in my chest. In Isaac’s mind, I’m a hero. In my mind, it’s a very different story, but I’m working on it. “Anyway, how areyoufeeling?” I ask. She was more tired than usual when she arrived this morning, and Iknow it’s because I’m asking for too much. “Are you ready for me to get a nanny yet?”

“Never. I told you that. In a few years, Isaac won't want anything to do with his Nana. I’m cashing in on it now. While I can.”

“You’d tell me if it was getting hard though, right?”

“Probably not.”

“Mom.”

“What? You need me. I’m here. It’s what moms do.”

My mind conjures up an image of Macy and I huff out a laugh. “Not all moms. Some leave the state.”

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