Page 87 of Tell Me Again
The words were like a balm to her soul, even though a tiny warning flitted through her mind. It sounded like “pretty words aren’t the same thing asI love you,” but she ignored it.I love youwould come. He was taking it slow.
But the idea that someone—finally, someone in her life—wanted to hold on to her, thought she was important enough to hold on to. Well, it dulled all those years of loneliness, gave them a halcyon filter so that it seemed the feeling of rejection was a necessary piece of her journey. If she hadn’t suffered, she wouldn’t appreciate this moment as much.
She pressed her mouth to his gently, because that was what the moment called for on the patio surrounded by her friends and his daughter. But she needed to touch him, needed to take his breath into her lungs like it was their own private bond.
After a moment she lifted her head to look into Trevor’s eyes and started to say the words. The three most important words. Before she could, a hand thumped her on the back of the head.
“I suppose telling you to get a room is a little too obvious,” Jenny drawled. “Don’t make me say it anyway.”
Sam wanted wrap her fingers around Jenny’s delicate throat. Just when she’d gotten up the nerve to tell Trevor she loved him...
“Hey, Jen,” she said through clenched teeth. “Don’t you have someone else to annoy?”
“Lucky for you,” Jenny answered without missing a beat, “no.” She nudged Trevor. “Hey there, Trevor. Does she sometimes demand that you wear nothing but a tool belt and call it foreplay?”
He smiled at Jenny. “Interesting idea, but no.”
Jenny’s gaze flicked to Sam. “Great reception. I hear the food is amazing. Of course it is because it’s Ben. Kendall looks really happy.” She paused then muttered, “Owen brought a date.”
“Idiot,” Sam said immediately.
Trevor cleared his throat. “How about a drink, ladies?” Without waiting for an answer, he started toward the bar and called over his shoulder, “I’ll be right back.”
Jenny gave a shuddery laugh. “Wow, he moves fast when he’s freaked out.”
“It’s a guy thing,” Sam said with a nod.
“Don’t be like me.” Jenny turned to her. “This is your chance. It’s obvious that Trevor is crazy about you, and I know you care about him. I won’t say the L word because it will scare you. You can’t let it scare you, Sam.”
“I’m not...” Really, who was she kidding? “I’m trying.”
Trevor returned with three champagne flutes and handed one to each of them. “I checked out the billionaire’s date,” he said as Jenny took the glass. “She doesn’t hold a candle to you.”
If Sam hadn’t already fallen in love with Trevor, that statement would have done it. She watched a small smile play at the corner of Jenny’s mouth.
“You’re not blowing sunshine up my—”
“Nope,” Trevor answered without hesitation.
Jenny nodded, squared her shoulders, and downed the fizzy liquid. “I needed that, the vote of confidence and the alcohol. I’m ready to go make nice with Ty’s family and rescue my mom before Libby Bishop tries to coax her out of retirement. I’ll catch up with you two later.”
For years, Jenny’s mom had been the Bishops’ housekeeper and, in many ways, more like a mom to Ty and his siblings than their own sophisticated mother. Mona Castelli was gentle and soft-spoken, the exact opposite of her fiery daughter. But the few times Sam had met her, Mrs.Castelli’s love for Jenny and Cooper had been obvious and clearly unconditional. Just like Kendall had from her mom. That’s what every child deserved but, as Sam could attest, not everyone received.
“I’m sorry for what Bryce did to you,” she said, turning to fully face Trevor. “She was my sister, and I loved her. She was also selfish and vindictive. I like to think that if she’d gotten sober, she would have turned into the type of mother that Grace deserves but—”
Trevor put a finger over her lips. “You aren’t to blame for Bryce’s actions.”
“I know that,” she said and then added, “sort of. But revenge against me played into it somehow and it makes me sick that you and Grace have paid the price for that. A girl needs a mother, Trevor. There will be dances and boyfriends and broken hearts.” She waved a hand to encompass the guests standing around them. “A wedding to plan someday.”
“Someday in the distant future,” he said with a laugh.
“Even so, Grace should have her mom to...” Her voice broke and she cleared her throat. “She should have a mom.”
“She has you,” he said softly and pushed a stray piece of hair away from her cheek. “We both have you.”
She gave a shaky nod and swallowed against the emotion clogging her throat. Gazing into his blue eyes, she was blown away by the emotion she saw there. Surely it was time to tell him—
“Sam,” Chloe called, waving her forward from the edge of the patio. “We need you for the toasts.”
