Page 80 of My Silver Lining

Axel

He’s been very quiet about his plans tonight, but he needed to borrow some shit from my barn, so I have a feeling our boy is more invested than he wants to admit.

I’m an open book. I like her. Pretty sure she feels the same, even if she’s cautious as fuck. But she’s leaving soon, so I’m just enjoying the time I have with her while she’s here.

Archer

You going to be all right when she leaves?

I didn’t really liketo think about it. I hadn’t expected to let things go this far. I’ve never been this connected to a woman, which was ironic, considering we hadn’t slept together. I’ve had many relationships over the years, mostly casual, a few more serious, but sex had always been involved.

And Lulu and I had been open about our desires, so these rules were definitely unusual.

Yet here I was. Planning a romantic Valentine’s dinner for a girl who was clearly one foot out the door.

But there was something about her.

I wasn’t going to hold back just because she was afraid of this.

This force.

This pull.

It was impossible to miss.

I’ll be fine. I’m sure she’ll be down for pickleball because she’s ridiculously competitive, and she will have plenty of opportunity to injure me on the court.

Bridger

I hate pickleball.

Easton

I don’t care. See you all tomorrow.

“Hey, Pops,” I said when I stopped by the house to drop off some flowers for my mom. I always brought her Valentine’s flowers. It was just our thing. “Where’s Mom?”

“She’s getting her nails done.” He glanced over his shoulder when I set the vase on the island. “You have time for a quick cup of coffee?”

“Of course.”

My dad and I were tight. Always had been.

“How’s the renovation going?” he asked.

“I just came from there, and things are moving along. A few more weeks, and I’ll be back in my house, which will be great.”

So why didn’t I sound excited about it?

“That’s good news. It’s nice that you don’t have to live there through the process. That’s no fun.” He took a sip of his coffee and studied me. “How’s it going with Lulu? It seems like it’s getting serious.”

My parents weren’t fully aware of the details of our odd arrangement, nor would they ever push. It wasn’t their style. They also didn’t know that I wasn’t staying in the guesthouse anymore. Not that it mattered, she wasn’t in my bed.

“I don’t know,” I said, scrubbing a hand down my face. “We’re good. But she’s moving to Paris in a couple of weeks, so it’ll be coming to an end.”

“Yeah, I know she’s moving. But I was asking more about how you feel about her.”

I reached for my coffee and took a sip as I thought about how I wanted to answer the question. I couldn’t tell him thatthe whole thing started out as a lie. That I’ve fallen in love with a woman who wouldn’t put her guard down long enough to say she felt the same. Nor could I tell her how I felt, because she’d probably take off running and never look back.

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