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Levi shook his head. “Andrew said he won’t go if I don’t go. And he’s gonna be torn up if he can’t do that sand art he saw on YouTube.”

“It’s nice of you to think of him, but I’m sure we can find a lake with a sandy shore near home.”

Levi let out a mix between a growl and a groan. “I don’t want to miss Cabo because Dad’s an idiot.”

I snorted out a laugh. “That beach is just calling your name, huh?”

He gave me a sheepish smile that quickly fell. “It’s just weird, like how could he move on so fast? And why does he want us to act like we’re some big happy family with Melinda and Adabelle when our family went to Cabolast year?”

“I know it’s hard to understand, but our marriage was over for a long time before the divorce.”

“That’s not the greatest love story,” Levi said.

“It’s not.” I held him close, wishing he wasn’t too tall for me to kiss the top of his head. “The greatest love story of my life will always be you and your siblings.”

He looked at me a moment, tears in his eyes, before saying, “I love you, Mom.”

My heart melted, and I hugged him tight before letting him go. “You know, I like this Levi. The one who says more than a syllable at a time.”

“Don’t get used to it,” he said, but he was smiling slightly as he did.

* * *

Sayinggoodbye to the kids knowing Melinda was going on the trip with them instead of me made me want to pull my hair out. And of the three-hour drive back to Dallas, I spent the first hour crying.

Not because Caleb had moved on, but because the reality of divorce settled in even deeper. This was the kids’ week with their dad. He was in charge. And even if I gave my opinion, I wasn’t really in control. He could bring whoever he wanted on the trip, and I had no say.

The second hour, I called my mom and cried some more.

And the third hour, I tried to calm down enough to see Gage. I just wanted to get this horrible morning off my mind and distract myself with amazing sex with my boss.

In the parking garage of his apartment building, I freshened up my makeup, unable to completely hide how hard this day had been. Then I got out of the car, holding my travel bag, and walked to the elevator. I pressed the call button, ringing PH.

“Hello?” Gage’s smooth voice came over the speaker.

It was a balm to my aching heart. “It’s Farrah.”

“Come up,” he replied, and the elevator doors dinged open.

This had to be the fanciest elevator I’d ever set foot in, and that was saying something because The Retreat had some swanky elevators.

But when the numbers climbed all the way to the top and the door slid open, my jaw dropped.

Gage’s condo was impressive. But even more stunning?

It was filled with bouquets of bright yellow dandelions.

A sign.

That everything was going to be okay.

37

Gage

Farrah’s hands covered her mouth... and she immediately began sobbing.

I strode across the apartment to her, taking her in my arms. “What’s wrong?” Had I messed up somehow? “Did something happen?”