Page 172 of A Convenient Secret

She narrows her eyes, looking from me to the realtor and back. “Why?”

I follow her into the air-conditioned foyer. “Jonathan, could you give us a moment?”

“Of course. I’ll be in the kitchen.” He leaves us, and I take Lily’s hand to pull her into the sitting room.

It’s empty, like the rest of the house, but the light streaming from the street makes it inviting.

“I get it, Seagull.”

She cocks her head. “You get what?”

Fuck, again, I’m not saying the right words. “Last week, I didn’t understand why you would choose the life you ran from. Regardless, I decided to accept it. I found a school for the twins, and this morning, I officially told the new London CEO that she has no job. Well, not the one she wanted.”

Lily gasps, her hand flying to her mouth.

“I was going to buy this house and just bring you here, but—and I’m sorry it took me a moment—as I was making all these decisions that I refused just a month ago, I kept reminding myself that I’m doing it for us.

“But really for myself. That the need to be close to you is much stronger than my need to maintain the carefully planned status quo in New York. And it dawned on me, you wanting to stay here wasn’t about choosing your family and past full of trauma. You chose you. And that is so fucking sexy.”

She blinks a few times, and a tear rolls down her cheek. “You’re moving to London?” She utters the words slowly like they are too fragile.

“Yes.”

“Because of me?”

“Were you not listening, woman? I’m movingbecause of me. I want this. I want to be close to you, and I hope to God you decide to take me—take us—back, so really, I’m doing it for us. For my family.”

“Why?”

I step closer to cup her face. “Just because.”

“Just because,” she whispers.

We stare at each other, suspended in the tenderness of our uncertainty. Of the future that is unknown, unplanned. A future we are unprepared for, but so fucking ready for.

“Let’s look at the house.” She takes my hand.

Ten minutes later, we join Jonathan in the kitchen.

“We’ll take it,” I say.

“Wonderful. Congratulations.” He shakes Lily’s and then my hand. “I will contact the owner and get all the paperwork ready.”

“Can I have the keys now?” I suggest rather than ask.

“But we haven’t even drawn up the purchase agreement.”

“I’ll transfer the purchase price to your company’s escrow account. Give me the account number.”

“What?”

I sigh. “You heard me.”

Lily folds her arms across her chest, glowering at me. “Sorry, Jonathan.” She smiles at him.

But the man smells money, and dutifully types thebanking information into my phone. I fire it off to my waiting lawyer.

“Can I have the keys now?” I’m being an asshole, but there is an urgency to my spiel.