Page 53 of Not On Your Life

She shakes her head and covers her mouth. “It’s gorgeous.”

Ward comes flying into the room, a pair of tongs in one hand and an empty hot dog bun in the other. “What happened? Who’s hurt?”

“I’m curious…” I say, stepping out from behind the door. “If one of us were hurt, what were you planning on doing with the bun?”

Ward rolls his eyes and is about to leave when Lyndi stops him. “I made that.”

She motions to me.

I lift a shoulder. “Well, technically my parents did—”

“Shut up, know-it-all.” She grabs my hand and spins me around. “I made this dress. And it’s still in one piece.”

Ward beams at his wife, his pride in her evident. “You’re incredible, sweetheart.” He steals her for a kiss, and I look away, catching sight of myself in the standing mirror.

Lyndi didn’t start sewing until she met her long-lost aunt last year. But she stuck with it. Put her heart and soul into it, and she is succeeding.

I’ve been so focused on trying to reclaim the life I was supposed to have, on getting back what I threw away.

But there’s more than one path to happiness. Have I been on the wrong one all along? Connor asked me if I enjoyed law. I always thought I did, but the more I think about it, I’m not sure that was ever the case.

Chapter 17

Connor

My mind isn’t on my work today. It’s on Maddie and that closet. Her guilty expression when I woke up, her smile, her—in my shirt. That image will live in my brain rent free until my dying day.

I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her since Tuesday. Her genuine smile and the way we talked, still teasing, but with more flirtation and less frustration. At least, I think that’s what was happening. Minus the almost dying part, I would have been content to stay there with her longer. But what plagues me twenty-four hours a day are all the things I didn’t get to say. I can handle her not falling for me the way I have for her—well, I’ll try—but I can’t handle her hating me for the biggest regret of my life. I have to get this weight off my chest before it kills me.

I have another training session with her tonight. Can I bring it up? Or will she add more burpees if I do?

I really hate burpees.

On the bright side, Millie was sympathetic after I recounted the horrific night in the closet to her and even cleaned the kitchen and living room. She put everything in the wrong place, but it was a nice effort.

Now to face Maddie again.

My pen bounces on my desk. How is it only one o’clock?

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out, needing whatever distraction it can give me.

Millie:How much do you love me?

Me:Enough.

Millie:That was almost sweet.

Millie:Look who got new roomies!

A picture follows of her with not one, but two Boxer puppies sitting onmyspot on the couch. So help me if they pee on it.

Me:You better be joking.

Millie:Say hello to Sean and Gus.

Me:Millie!

Then I’m greeted with a video of both puppies chewing on my sneakers. She’s joking, right? She has to be joking. Taking in two dogs is not a monthly hobby.