Page 54 of If Love Had A Manual

“I need a new one.”

I don’t, but Lena’s right. I’ve learned to choose my battles wisely.

When she’s sure she’s out of Rosie’s ladle range, she refocuses on me. “So did Lyndsey stay long after everything?” Her voice softens at the end, not quite sure how to phrase my sister’s accident.

“Three weeks.”

Her head jerks back like I just announced I eat cereal with tap water.

“Three weeks?” She stares, mouth opening and closing, eyes blazing with righteous indignation.

It’s a wonderful fucking mouth, but nothing is coming out of it.

“Spit it out.”

She waves her hands before they flop down at her sides again. I’m not sure if she knows what to do with her limbs anymore.

Covering Rosie’s ears, she stares at me with wide eyes. “Can I go back there and kick her ass?”

“No, Lena.”

“I could take her, you know. She’s got that fancy coat, but I’m scrappy.”

“I have no doubt you’d win,” I say, trying not to smile. “But let’s keep violence to a minimum for Rosie’s sake.”

Lena groans, dropping her hands. “You know, I understand that people aren’t always ready to be parents. But I also don’t understand, you know? If she loved you, how could she walk away? It doesn’t make sense.”

But of course it doesn’t make sense to her. Lena’s entire nature is to nurture. It comes easily to her.

“I figured you’d say that.”

Frowning, she shifts her weight, looking up at me as she rubs a hand over Rosie’s curls like she’s trying to protect her from the hurt she was never exposed to in the first place.

“Do you…forgive her?”

The answer is easy. “Yes”

It’s not until after Lyndsey walked away that I realized I wasn’t heartbroken. Not really. I was relieved.

Was the timing brutal? Sure. No getting around that. But do I ever wonder if we’d still be together if the accident hadn’t happened?

No. Not even a little. It doesn’t cross my mind.

“How? Why?”

“Because I want what’s best for Rosie. I’m glad Lyndsey showed me she wasn’t that three weeks in rather than three years.”

She considers that, then gently leans over andpresses a kiss to Rosie’s head. “You know I’m not leaving you, Rosie Posie, right?”

My chest constricts at the unexpected wave of warmth in my gut.

“Jesus, Lena. Don’t threaten us like that.”

She nudges me with her elbow. “Shut up. You two would be vitamin-deficient without me.”

I glare pointedly at the Brussels sprouts that have magically reappeared in the cart. “Unbelievable. Didn’t I tell you no?”

“Oops?”

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