Page 6

FIVE

Later that night, I relaxed on my couch and scrolled through an app to find something to watch.

I was already dozing off, and judging by the rest of the week, I’d be asleep on the couch in minutes.

What a glamorous life I led. No wonder I was hopelessly single.

No one interested me, and the few who did weren’t interested in dating someone with my schedule.

Hey baby, want to pass out before nine pm and wake up at four-thirty?

Not many people signing up for that routine.

Besides, the solitary life worked for me.

I’d dated Josh for my entire high school career, and that left me unimpressed, to say the least. I’d gone on a couple of dates and had some hook-ups in college, but nothing lasted more than a few weeks.

After being burned so thoroughly by Josh, I had high standards for the people I let into my life.

No one had come close to matching them since, so I figured it was time to call dating a loss.

Maybe to some people, it was weird to let a few awful dates sour the whole experience, but right now, it wasn’t worth it to me.

Maybe I was old-fashioned, but I wanted to be swept off my feet and not because of anxiety to settle down or because I felt bored or lonely.

I’d rather be by myself forever than be with someone just for the sake of it.

Not that I was really alone.

As the thought crossed my mind, a soft meow came from the side of the couch as Laila brushed my toes with the top of her head.

I reached down and brought my black cat into my lap.

When I graduated, I hadn’t intended on getting a pet, but fate had other plans.

I was walking through a local farmer’s market when something snagged on my sweater—a sweet little kitten with large, green eyes stared back at me, her nail tugging a hole into my cardigan.

The woman from the adoption agency joked the kitten was a spitfire, and I knew it was meant to be. She came home with me that very day.

Laila quickly curled up on top of my legs, batting my hand to give her scratches on the top of her head.

Okay, so maybe I was one step closer to becoming a cat lady, but would that be the worst thing?

Laila and I had a good thing going, and as long as I fed her regularly, I got all the affection I needed.

Just as Laila drifted off to sleep, a knock came from the front door, the noise abrasive and obnoxious in the quiet apartment. My cat jumped up with a hiss, sticking her claws into my thighs. “Shit,” I snapped as I sat up, inspecting my skin for any blood. None, thank goodness.

As I tucked my phone into my hoodie pocket, I pulled back the curtains by the door, smiling when I saw Victoria waiting on the other side. I cracked open the door, smirking at her. “Shouldn’t you be off getting loved up by your real-life superhero?”

Victoria just laughed and pushed past me to come inside.

One of the best perks of taking the teaching job?

When I needed a place to stay, Tori immediately offered the carriage house on the edge of her property.

I loved this place. It still had all the charm from the turn of the century, but they’d spared no expense bringing all the plumbing and fixtures into the modern edge.

The plan was for it to be a guest house until Tori’s daughter, Emilia, grew up.

Then, when she was an adult, she could have a private place to stay when she came to visit.

But considering Emilia was only six, it was empty for the foreseeable future, and Tori said it was mine for as long as I wanted it.

“You know it’s only five, right? Not getting loved up when Emilia’s still conscious,” Tori said as she plopped onto my couch. “But later…that’s another story.”

I settled onto the couch next to her. “Where’s Emilia right now?”

“Adam took her out to get some ice cream.”

“ Before dinner?”

Tori rolled her eyes and tossed my couch pillow at my head. “Normally, he wouldn’t, but Adam’s leaving to meet with some studio executives for a week, so he wanted to get some time in with her.”

“Good man,” I said. “How’s he treating you? Still a romance hero brought to life?”

I loved to tease Victoria about her love life, but inside, I felt a little jealous.

No one deserved a great love like my best friend.

She was all heart and deserved someone who treated her like a queen.

Luckily, Adam fit the bill. When they first connected, I supported it, thinking Victoria needed a fling to move on from her ex.

Instead, they fell in love, and while I was so happy for their little family, it put a pin in a lot of our plans.

For years, Victoria and I talked about opening our own daycare.

With my teaching license and her business mind, I was sure we’d be successful.

I’d imagined the centers we’d create, finding a balance between affordability and quality care.

Growing up, there weren’t a lot of options for childcare.

Most of my neighbors relied on each other to watch their kids when they had to work.

It was a system that worked, but it wasn’t the best for the kids.

They were missing out on opportunities to socialize, to learn new skills, all things their more affluent peers took for granted.

I wanted to help bridge that gap, and I thought Victoria felt the same way.

At least, until she moved up here with Adam.

“He is,” Victoria said, her cheeks filling with color. “But that’s not what I’m here to talk to you about. I need you to come up to the main house. We’re celebrating Cam’s first day on his new team, and we want you there.”

I rolled my eyes. No, thank you. Celebrating the golden boy was not how I wanted to spend my evening. “I think I’ll pass. Plus, he’s been on the team for weeks. Isn’t that why he was down in Florida for spring training?”

“Technically, yes, but that was the farm team. Now, he’s on the major league team.

It’s a really big deal...” She stood and tugged me up from the couch.

“C’mon. It’ll be more fun with you there.

Besides, what other plans do you have? Watching the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and pondering why so many guys use fish as props on their dating profiles? ”

“First, rude. And second, you’re wrong. I’ll be watching the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City .” She definitely had me on the fish thing, though. What was that about?

“Aren’t they the same thing?”

I gasped, pulling my hand to my chest. “The fact that you even asked that makes me question our friendship.”

“Get over it,” Tori chuckled as she pulled me toward the door. “You’re stuck with me for good.”

Just the way I wanted it.