Page 137 of The Ampersand Effect

Harrow managed to rein it in, finally looking at Tobin— sincerely confused. “You seriously don’t know why she wants to talk to you?”

Tobin shook her head. She was flummoxed. Her phone buzzed and she clicked it open, desperate for some of Grier’s grounding sanity to distract her from the chaos of her morning.

GRIER—5:23 a.m.

Oh, good luck! Elodie is formidable! But you

are her weakness—I’m sure all will be fine.

Tobin felt a little calmer just having communicated with Grier—knowing she was out there, steady and supportive.

GRIER—5:24 a.m.

Let me know when you get back in town. Are

we still on for tomorrow night? You still

won’t tell me what we are doing?

The smile that tugged at her lips was genuine, if a little stifled. She was finally taking Grier to see the fireflies. She couldn’t wait to see the look on her face as the sun set and the forest began to flicker with light. She planned to have a picnic in the same clearing where they’d gone mushroom hunting, and settle into each other as dusk closed in, watching the light show cradled in each other’s arms.

“Tobin.”

It was Harrow’s turn to look at her sister with incredulity, interrupting her digression into the conversation and pending plans with Grier. “She wants to talk to you about Grier.”

Tobin scoffed, blacking her phone after she typed her response. “Grier? Why?”

LoLo had never been assertive with Tobin’s previous girlfriends. Which, honestly, was a feat because Elodie Maes had an opinion about everything.

Granted, Tobin had deliberately avoided bringing girlfriends home after her “Blur” days.

Was that what this was about? Was LoLo stepping in now, sensing that Grier could hurt her like Talia had? Did LoLo feel responsible for that, for not stepping in before the relationship imploded in the aftermath of her accident?

No. Not even Eddie or Harrow had predicted what happened with Talia. There hadn’t been any writing on the wall to translate— just an accident, and the carnage in its wake.

Harrow reached across the expanse of countertop, placing a warm, comforting hand over Tobin’s. “I’m just gonna let LoLo explain that one herself.”

Tobin felt her jaw drop.Seriously?Harrow was just going to leave her hanging?

Judging by the smug grin on Harrow’s lips as she gathered her keys and briefcase—then winked at her on the way out the door— yes, Harrow absolutely was going to leave her hanging.

Apparently Girl Code held no significance in this house anymore.

Tobin’s brain offered no reprieve from the multitude of scenarios she played on loop for the rest of the morning. Even the flight over offered no distractions. She arrived at LoLo’s on edge, and fidgeted while she helped her grandmother clean up their late lunch.

She dried the last plate and placed it in the cupboard, then turned to find LoLo already holding a tumbler of bourbon in one hand and a glass of iced tea in the other. She handed the tea to Tobin and gestured toward the front porch—the site of all her most serious conversations.

Tobin grabbed the glass of iced tea in silence and walked through the screen door, settling into one of the Adirondack chairs. She recalled the familiar scenario from several months ago, when she sat here, heartsick and confused, wondering if she should confront her feelings for Grier.

Now, it seemed, LoLo had more to say on the subject.

They sat in silence for long minutes. Tobin’s knee was bouncing restlessly, her nerves unsettled and growing worse by the minute. It appeared that LoLo was going to draw this out. Which—what?—LoLo was one of the most direct people she knew. It was probably—no, definitely—one of the reasons she was so attracted to it in Grier. She’d grown up with that type of modeling. Of course she’d find it attractive in a partner.

“I like her,” LoLo stated, casually. Without pretense.

Tobin forced a deep breath out through her pinched lips.Finally.

She didn’t look at LoLo, though. She could feel the weight of abuthovering just behind her words. She didn’t want to see the look on her face when it was finally voiced.