Page 100 of Falling Into Forever
Her sigh is heavy, yet cutting. “Fine. I’ll back off. For now,” she clarifies. “But I want to be in on any major decisions. It will be helpful as I’m working with other publishers, and—” There’s a long pause. “I do care about her.”
“I know you do, and I can work with that.”
She stares at me with her lips pursed. She wants to say something snarky but instead says, “Okay. Keep me posted.”
“Will do,” I say, but she’s already disconnected the video call.
Opening another web browser, I scroll through the notifications and follow Trent’s activity. He’s making it easy since he’s out all fucking night calling the tabloids and alerting them of his whereabouts.
I’ll have to make some tough decisions soon. Half of my clients have already bailed because of the scandal, but for some inane reason, I’m holding out hope that the Trent I grew to love as my brother will do the right thing.
I hate that I can’t fix him. I hate that my professional life is spiraling, and I have no control over it.
Constant knocking on the screen door grabs my attention and makes me smile. Poppy’s here.
I hear the chair roll across the office floor right before the door opens. “Is she here?” Saylor asks, poking her head into the hallway so only her face shows in the doorframe.
“She’s here,” I say, walking toward the stairs, but thezip-zip-zipof her pendant stops me in my tracks.
“I’m not a good babysitter,” she says, her words vibrating with fear.
God, I love this woman. “I’ll be right here the entire time,” I say, hoping it’ll comfort her.
The knocking continues, but I don’t move until Saylor’s gaze lifts to mine.
“Okay,” she finally says. “But there’s a reason I don’t even own a plant, Dante. I don’t trust myself to care for anything or anyone else. I barely take care of myself some days.”
Tilting my head, I watch as she twists her necklace. “Is that what you think?” She shifts in her seat, obscuring herself from my view. “That’s not how I see it.” She scoffs, but I continue. “You’ve spent all this time going to therapy. Fighting the bad days by yourself—and with help when you allowed it. You have gotten yourself here, Sayls. You’ve been taking care of yourself. That counts for something.”
“My therapist said I avoid caring for anything or anyone, so I can also avoid losing them.”
Knife, meet heart.
“What do you think?” I ask as the screen door bursts open and crashes against the wall.
She shrugs. “I thought if I didn’t love, I wouldn’t get hurt. I told you that.”
“And I told you that you do love. You love Ainsley and—Grady.” Admitting that is like swallowing a cup full of glass. “And even though you won’t admit it yet, you love me too.”
Poppy’s feet clomp up the stairs as she sings a song I don’t recognize.
“I understand your fears. I do. And life is full of risks, but if we don’t take a chance sometimes, we’ll miss out on all the beautiful options life has to offer too.”
Saylor frowns, but can’t maintain it when Poppy launches herself into my arms.
“We are worth the risk, Saylor. A calculated, well-executed risk that I will navigate with you. Trust me?”
Poppy kisses my face. “Hi, Unca. I wub you.”
“Love you too, Lollipop.” She wiggles out of my arms and charges Saylor, who is prepared for her this time.
Uncomfortable laughter bubbles out of her as her face scrunches up tight and Poppy kisses every inch of it.
“I wub you too,” Poppy says, standing only inches away from Saylor’s face.
Saylor’s face pinches, but I implore her with a gentle nod of my head. “Trust, Sayls.”
“You’re asking me to trust an awful lot of things lately,” she mutters.
