Page 71 of You Girl (The Lucky Girls 3)

“Okay?”

“All I’m saying is you should be careful which tree you water.”

I bristle at that. “You know, I know I’m paying you for all kinds of advice and you’re on top of emotions and how to deal with them because it’s your job.” I stand and collect my handbag. “But it wouldn’t have killed you to ask me outright where I see things going with Sam instead of making assumptions.”

I walk to the door.

“Our time isn’t up yet,” Dianne says from her chair, where she’s still seated.

“No, it’s not. I expect to be billed for the full hour, don’t worry. I just forget sometimes that I pay you for your advice, but we’re not friends.”

I slam the door behind me, furious that Dianne could even suggest something like that to me. She knows how long it’s taken me to convince myself that attempting to date is a good idea. Of all people, she’s the one who shouldunderstandhow I feel.

Instead, she nailed me when my guard was down.

I feel hurt.

When I’m in the car, I let my breath out with a huff. Suddenly, I remember Mason, and pick up the phone to call a babysitter for tonight. When the sitter is busy, I call Michelle.

“I’m so sorry to ask,” I say. “But do you think you can watch Kylie for a short while tonight? Mason’s mom is in hospital and he’s in a bad spot. I want to check in on him.”

“Of course,” Michelle says. “I love spending time with Kylie. Can I get us pizza?”

“She’ll love that,” I say, relieved.

“I’m sorry Mason is in a bad space,” Michelle says. “I hope things work out.”

“Me too,” I admit.

We end the call and I turn the ignition, pulling back into the road. I’m upset with Dianne, but I know I have friends who will be there for me. Dianne’s job is just to provide a service. I don’t have to take what she says to heart. But still, thinking about going to see Sam makes my stomach twist.

And that just pisses me off. Dianne had no right to make me doubt myself just when I started to feel good about my life and how I’m handling things.

Right now, I need to focus on getting the last bit of work done and then seeing Mason tonight.

Hopefully, I can do something to make him feel better. He would go out of his way for me if the roles were reversed.

Chapter 23

Mason

When the doorman calls from the lobby, relief washes over me. I didn’t realize how much I needed to see Natalie tonight. I wait at my front door until the elevator doors open in my lobby, and when she steps out, she’s like a vision—an apparition. She’s braided her blond hair and she looks a little more casual than when she’s coming from the office. But no matter what she does, she’ll always be beautiful. She has that something about her that radiates from the inside.

I step toward her and wrap my arms around her. Her arms close around me, too, and I bury my face in her neck. Her hair smells like shampoo and the faint scent of her perfume lingers around her. Everything about her is intoxicating.

“Thank you so much for coming,” I say when I finally pull back. “You don’t have to stay very long.”

“Kylie is with Michelle. I can stay a while.”

I know she made a last-minute arrangement to be able to see me. I don’t know if she had any plans with her daughter, and this means more to me than she knows.

I invite her into my apartment.

“Your place is always so neat and clean,” she says.

“Housekeeping,” I say, feeling sheepish. Natalie runs her own home, and I imagine we live very different lives with me sourcing everything out.

“I can imagine it’s a dream to come home to a place that doesn’t need any elbow grease.” She smiles at me and her eyes are gentle. “How is your mom doing?”

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