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Kit scoffs.
“I told him I didn’t because I don’t. I don’t think we would’ve worked out in the long term, even if he hadn’t cheated. But I’m not sure I would have moved to New York if he hadn’t cheated—at least not when I did, and I’mreallyglad I moved to New York when I did.”
“You mean that?”
I stare at Kit, taken aback by the uncharacteristic uncertainty in his voice. “Yes. Of course I do.”
“You wouldn’t changeanything, even if you could?” he presses.
“Well, I’d probably change how I acted on New Year’s Eve. And tell you about the paternity test differently and also the?—”
“I meant the big stuff, Collins. Moving here. Changing jobs. The pregnancy. It’s just me. You can be honest.Behonest.”
“I wouldn’t change any of it, Kit,” I tell him sincerely. “I chose to stay pregnant, and I’ve never regretted it. I love living here, with you, and I’m especially fond of your piano and shower. I feel good about work, and if that changes, I’ll figure something else out. And I’m so sorry if I’ve made you feel like?—”
Kit presses a finger to my lips, cutting me off. “Don’t apologize. You haven’t. But we were talking about your life in Chicago, and I was thinking about what you said at that dinner, about all the ways my life was going to change if I was involved.” He exhales. “Yours has—will—too, and I want to make sure you … I just … I want togiveyou things, Monty. Not take options away. Not have you stuck, making the best out of a situation you didn’t want.”
“I want it,” I assure him. “I want all of it.” I reach for his hand, threading our fingers together. “You’ve given me everything I couldever want.”
He squeezes my hand.
“How wasyourday?” I ask.
Kit groans. “Well … it turns out, Beauté was some sort of test. That’s why I’m home so late. I went over all their files again to see if I’d missed anything.”
I frown. “A test? What does that mean?”
“That my dad has a twisted sense of humor. Apparently, my grandfather did the same thing to Oliver. Float a questionable company, then leave it to him to decide whether to make a deal or not.”
“What did Oliver do?”
“He made the deal.”
“And was that the right call?”
Kit hesitates before responding, “It wasn’t the wrong call. But I think he’d pick differently now if he could.”
“Do you know what you’re going to do?”
“Not yet. Levi set up a meeting with Beauté for next week. I’ll see how that goes before making a final call.”
I nod. A second later, my stomach growls.
“You haven’t eaten yet?”
“I was waiting for you,” I admit.
“Come on.” He stands, steadying me as I move as gracefully as I can maneuver at seven months pregnant.
Even once we’re walking toward the kitchen, he doesn’t drop my hand.
45
Flynn’s standing between the elevator bank and Maya’s desk, laughing with Asher, when I leave for the day.
“Hey, Kit,” Asher greets, his standard smile still in place.
Asher Cotes has been my dad’s best friend for as long as I can remember. For longer than I’ve been alive. He’s my dad’s Flynn, I guess. Asher and his family were at the Thanksgiving gathering my parents hosted, but I haven’t seen him around the office as much as I expected to. His role at the company is focused on Kensington Consolidated’s international interests and involves a fair amount of travel asa result.