Page 67 of Hold Me Tight

Rina nudges her with a grin. “You’ve never looked more content or happy. So we all know that man is doing something right.”

“I am happy,” Lilah says dreamily. “Settled in a way I didn’t think was possible. It didn’t all happen overnight, but moving in with Steele was the beginning. That’s when everything started to shift between us.”

“You deserve it, babe,” Rina says, giving her hand a squeeze. “Steele adores you. Relationship goals right there.”

I take a long sip of coffee, hoping they’ll stay focused on Lilah’s fairytale romance for just a little longer.

No such luck.

I feel the moment the attention boomerangs back to me.

Three sets of eyes. Zero escape routes. Each one of them is looking at me like they’ve got follow-up questions locked and loaded.

Sloane points her cruller at me. “Okay, explain why you walked in here glowing. Not pregnancy glowing,” she adds. “But something definitely happened. And I, for one, need the details. I think we all know that my love life’s been DOA since… honestly, I don’t even want to slap a date on it. So, make me happy and just spill.”

Even though we’re the only ones here, I glance around the bakery before leaning in. “He gave me an orgasm last night.”

For the second time this morning, three jaws drop in perfect unison.

Sloane nearly drops her cruller.

Again.

“Wait, what? You slept with him?” Sloane nearly shouts.

“No!” I say quickly, hands flying up. “But he”–I widen my eyes and nod my head?—

“you know.”

Lilah stares at me wide-eyed. “I was not expecting that. But just to be clear, I love that for you.”

With a grin, Rina leans forward. “It’s about time someone worthy of you stepped up to the plate.”

Sloane exhales dramatically. “God, I’m totally jealous. I mean, the only thing I’ve been doing in bed lately is cuddling up with my heated blanket and binge-watching murder podcasts. If anyone needs help disposing of a body, I’m your girl.”

That gets a round of giggles, but then Lilah’s expression grows serious, and I know what’s coming next. “So, how do you feel about everything?”

The laughter fades, and the truth slips out. “I’m not sure.”

I pick at the edge of my napkin, trying to find the right words. “River is turning out to be different than I expected. And he’s amazing with Nora.” The fear that’s been simmering beneath the surface rises, and before I can stop it, I blurt, “I can’t afford to get hurt again.”

Silence stretches across the table. It’s not awkward, just real. Like they all get it. Like they’ve all stood in the same place, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“It’s not just the sex, or I guess I should say, the non-sex,” I murmur. “It’s the way he looks at me. Almost like he sees me, along with all my baggage, and it doesn’t make him want to run for his life.”

Rina reaches across the table and lays her hand over mine. “That’s how it’s supposed to feel, babe. That’s exactly what it looks like when a real man shows up.”

Before I can respond, my phone buzzes. I slip it from my pocket and glance at the screen.

River: Just wanted to show you that we’re doing fine.

There’s a photo attached.

Nora has two slightly crooked pigtails that look way too good for a rookie attempt. Her cheeks are sticky with strawberry yogurt, and she’s grinning, as if having an absolute ball. River’s beside her, face pressed close, blue eyes crinkled from smiling. He looks like he’s having just as much fun as she is.

Squeals erupt from around me.

“Oh my God,” Sloane gasps. “He did her hair. And it’s actually good. Like, shockingly good.”