Page 240 of P.S. I'm Still Yours

As in people are lining up to see my work.

Kane and I stand by the doors, greeting every attendee with a smile and polite chitchat.

I lose count of the guests once we hit a hundred.

My heart swells with joy when I spot Evie and my mom in the distance. I wave at them, and Mom immediately notices us. She grabs her partner Walter’s hand, dragging him over to us in no time. Evie follows suit, a few steps behind the lovebirds. The guy she’s seeing couldn’t make it.

I don’t think I’m ever going to get used to my mom dating. She was single for so long I never stopped to think that one day she’d want to be in love, too.

I’m glad she met Walter. He’s nice. He’s our landlord and the building’s handyman. He’d keep coming around to ask if she needed anything fixed for the first year we lived there.

He and Mom hit it off instantly. They started dating a little over three years ago.

“Oh, sweetie, I’m so proud of you.” Mom throws her arms around me, holding me so tight she cuts off my airways.

I don’t complain, enjoying every second of her hug. “Thanks, Mom.”

We separate a few seconds later. I barely have time to greet Walter before Evie is pulling Kane and me into a group hug. I notice the tears in her eyes the second she withdraws.

“Evie, are you okay?” I worry.

She wipes her cheeks, a sob climbing up her throat. “Of course. I’m just… I’m so happy for you. You two are meant for each other. I wish you so much—”

“Um, Mom?” Kane interjects, seemingly uncomfortable.

What am I missing here?

“Can I talk to you in private?” he asks, offering her a tight-lipped smile.

Her eyes grow. “Oh, have you not… But I thought you said…”

Again, what?

“I’ll be right back.” Kane smacks a loud kiss on my cheek before taking his mom’s hand and ushering her to a quiet spot.

Well, that wasn’t weird at all.

I don’t have time to overthink the awkward interaction I just witnessed, continuing to greet every attendee. I must thank a dozen people for coming before a familiar voice startles me.

“Hadley!”

I whisk my head to the right, emotions clawing their way through my chest when I see Jamie beelining for me.

“Oh my God!” I match my best friend’s energy. “You made it!”

I pull Jamie into my arms, hugging the breath out of her as though I haven’t seen her in ages when really, we vacation in Golden Cove together every summer.

Shay slows down next to her wife a short moment later. “Are you kidding? You could’ve dropped a whole damn building on top of her, and she still would’ve found a way to come.”

“She’s not lying. Our flight was delayed, and honest to God, I considered swimming here,” Jamie deadpans, and I laugh, squeezing her tighter.

A part of me was afraid she’d have to cancel on me last minute. She and Shay are so busy raising their daughters, an RSVP doesn’t always guarantee that they’ll be able to swing by.

That’s adulthood for you.

I wasn’t nearly naïve enough to think everyone from my past would make the trip to LA. For example, Vince and Maggie sent us the biggest bouquet I’ve ever seen to apologize for not being able to come. I knew Cal also reached out to let us know he and his girlfriend couldn’t get off work.

I don’t hold it against them.

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