Page 87 of The Jilted Lovers Club
“I can’t think of anything,” I say. “I’m really sorry I can’t be of more help.”
“It’s okay, dear. We’re going to keep researching this to see if there are any cracks we can take advantage of.” He nods at his card. “If you think of anything, even the most trivial thing, let me know, okay?”
The meeting disperses soon after, and I slowly get up to leave.
“Well, I guess this is goodbye,” I say, looking at my hands.
“Oh sweetheart, this has been quite the rollercoaster ride, hasn’t it?” Bec wraps an arm around me, and I lean into her. I’m trying my hardest not to cry, though I can feel the tears stinging my eyes.
“It was definitely not anything I planned for,” I say. “I never thought I’d leave my job in the same week I completed my biggest job to date. I suppose I have some thinking to do on what my next steps will be.”
“Well, there’s always Lahoma Springs,” Bernie says. “Griffin here will hire you on as a waitress.”
“Mom, I think that’s my choice,” Griff says, but he winks at me. “I might make an exception for you though.”
“Thanks, but no thanks,” I laugh, though I don’t really feel like laughing. I glance at Ashton. This time he’s watching me, and I think I see something in his expression. Something like regret, or maybe just a question.
Or maybe I’m just projecting.
I offer him a small smile. He’s still, and then he gives a slow nod.
“Thanks for helping,” he says, though his eyes don’t quite meet mine.
“I didn’t do much.”
“Still, you showed up. You didn’t have to. If I were you, I’d have booked it out last night and never looked back, but you didn’t do that.”
I glance at Bernie, who gives a small shake of her head. But secrets only make things worse.
“I was ready to,” I admit, turning back to him, “last night, when I was leaving your house. But Griffin and Bernie made me stay the night at the hotel, and Bernie talked me into coming this morning.” I take a deep breath. “I’m serious when I say I want to help. Even though I’m leaving, I will if I can.” I gather my purse, unsure of what to do next. Because what I really want to do is tell Ashton how meaningful it was to meet him. Instead, I lean down to Lottie’s level, the other most important person I met here.
“You are one special little girl,” I tell her, stroking my finger along her soft cheek. She grins, even as tears fill my eyes.
“Up?” She holds her arms toward me, and I look to Ashton. He hesitates and I start to stand.
“Go ahead,” he says, placing a hand on my shoulder.
I unbuckle the belt and pick her up, not even minding that the banana on her hands is getting on my silk blouse. I’ll probably smell like banana the whole drive to Sunset Bay, and I don’t care.
“I think I’ll miss you most of all,” I whisper, hugging her close. She lays her little head on my shoulder, and beyond the banana, I smell the powder scent of her shampoo and feel the heat from her soft baby skin. This little girl has helped me work through one of my biggest fears. In a few hours, I’ll meet my new baby cousin for the first time in person, and it’s so much less scary because I’ve gotten to know Lottie first. I realize that even though I’m okay with never having children of my own, someday I might be able to love someone else’s child the way I love Lottie.
“She’s going to miss you too,” Ashton says, standing close to me. His hand brushes the side of my hip, sending a suddenelectric shock through me. “I think she wishes we had more time.”
I look at him, taking in the gold of his eyes, the smoothness of his beautiful face, the crinkle in his forehead, and the slight twitch of his smile.
“Maybe in another lifetime,” I say as I nod. Then I lift Lottie so I can kiss her on the cheek before handing her off. “Until then, right?”
I say one last goodbye, then I head out of the restaurant without looking back, making my way to the hotel so I can get my things and leave Lahoma Springs for good.
Not So Timeless
Ashton
I watch Jordy leave, feeling the loss of it rip through me like a silent shift in the earth. There’s so much I want to say,I’m sorrybeing at the top of the list. I feel like the biggest tool by believing that asshole, Alexander Winslow, before ever talking with her first. Now, she’s leaving. I’ll never see her again.
I turn to Bec and realize she’s been staring at me, and not just her—everyone is watching me.
“What?”
