Page 6 of Our Little Moments

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When I get to Westwood Spring, I’m so exhausted I can barely keep my eyes open. Everything blurs—the colors of the houses, the soft glow of lanterns lining the quiet streets, the distant hum of wind chimes swaying in the breeze. Thankfully, I spot a cozy-looking inn at the corner of the street. Warm lights flicker from inside the windows, and a wooden sign swings above the door, creaking gently.

“Welcome!” a woman calls from the entrance before I even get to the door.

“Hi,” I say, trying to sound normal. “I’d like a room for the night.”

“Of course,” she says with a bright smile.

I nod and start digging through my purse for my wallet, but before I can find it, she holds out a key.

I blink at her. “Wait—how much do I owe you?”

She just smiles again. “We don’t take money here, dear. Just get some rest. You can figure things out in the morning.”

I stand there for a second, frozen and thrown off.

How does she know I don’t have anything figured out?

Does it really show that much?

Crap, why does it feel like everyone’s pitying me these days?

“I’ll pay you back,” I mumble, taking the key and heading for the stairs.

I don’t catch what she says after that. My brain’s too tired to care.

The room is small, but clean. The bed looks . . . honestly, amazing.

I barely even sit down before I’m lying back, staring at the ceiling for a second.

The light is soft. The sheets are warm.

Sleep pulls me under before I can think too hard about any of it.

Chapter 2

Adrian

Iglance over my shoulder to check on Scarlett.

I’m used to taking care of everyone around me, helping people out wherever I can, but Scarlett’s been looking after me since I was a kid.

She’s never asked me for anything before. So, when she called about a busted chandelier at her hotel, I didn’t hesitate, even if I was surprised.

It feels off to reverse the roles now.

I keep my hands busy, adjusting the fixture with careful focus, until the silence wears too thin. “Didn’t think you’d ever ask me for help,” I say, voice light, casual. “It took me by surprise.”

She smiles, and nostalgia hits me hard.

That smile is the one I remember so well from my childhood. She has always been a steady presence in my life. As my mother’s best friend, she treats me and my sisters like family and has never hesitated to help take care of us.

That smile is the one Scarlett used to give me and my sisters when we were kids, whenever we were scared or hurting. The kind of smile that says,Everything’s okay. You have nothing to worry about.

“I know,” she says, voice soft. “I didn’t want to put more on your plate.”

“It’s no problem,” I say quickly, shrugging off the implication. I turn back to the chandelier.

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