Page 40

CHAPTER FORTY

SUTTON

These past few days, I’d gotten a glimpse of what my life would be like once Laurel went off to college.

And I could say with complete certainty that I absolutely hated it.

Not only did I love my kid, but I actually liked her.

I genuinely enjoyed spending time with her and wanted to soak up as much of that as I had left.

But I also wasn’t going to force her to move into a dilapidated space without actual floors just because I was too stubborn to stay in the home of the man who’d broken my heart.

The clinic closed late tonight, and Laurel had plans, which meant I was once again alone for the evening.

I figured it was the perfect excuse to eat cereal for dinner and attempt to read my current book.

In actuality, I’d probably end up doomscrolling on my phone instead until I fell asleep and dropped it on my face.

I couldn’t seem to concentrate on anything—least of all reading—which was really unfortunate, considering I could use an escape now more than ever.

“The last patient is gone, and Alicia headed out, so it’s just you and me.” Quinn strolled into the back room and grabbed her coat.

She shrugged into it as she ran an assessing gaze over me.

“You said Laurel’s studying with Cami tonight, right?”

“Yeah, she’s got a big test tomorrow and has been freaking out about it all week.”

“Perfect.”

“Exactly what I was thinking about my cereal-for-dinner plan, followed by doomscrolling.”

“Nope, not happening,” Quinn said, tucking her arm through mine as she led us toward the front.

“A few of us are getting together tonight, and you’re coming.”

I was shaking my head before she’d even finished speaking.

“Oh no, I don’t want to intrude on your plans.”

And I wasn’t sure I was fit for company anyway.

“My plans included you, but you kept dodging me—again.” She shot me a look out of the corner of her eye, and I could only duck my head because…

yeah, I had definitely been doing that.

“Plus, Luna’s bringing a friend who’s new to town, so you guys will have that in common. They’re meeting me at?—”

“If you say One Night Stan’s, I’m definitely out,” I said, unable to stop myself.

I just couldn’t go there.

Not yet. I didn’t know how I was going to navigate that while living in Starlight Cove, considering the best place to grab burgers, drinks, and generally hang out with friends was owned by my ex-not-even-real boyfriend.

I’d worked hard the past few days to avoid running into Atlas, but that wouldn’t last forever.

Not when I lived in his backyard and worked in the same building once a week.

All I knew was, I wasn’t ready to tackle that today.

It was a problem for future me to figure out.

Quinn’s brows lifted.

“I was going to say they’re meeting me at my place, but your reaction only proves just how much you need this. Come on. Addison’s bringing enough tacos to fill a truck, and you obviously could use a night with some friends.”

I could, actually.

Desperately needed one, even if it had always been in my nature to retreat when I had shit to deal with.

I always managed to work things out on my own eventually because I’d always been forced to.

But I couldn’t deny how nice it would be to be surrounded by girlfriends.

And hadn’t that been one of the reasons I’d decided to stay?

“All right. I’m in.”

Ten minutes later, Quinn and I strode into her newly renovated house.

Though she and Ford had moved in recently, no one could have guessed that with how cozy and warm their home was.

The two-story Cape Cod had been a fixer-upper when they’d purchased it, but Ford was handy with a hammer and saw.

His work was evident throughout, from the floor-to-ceiling, built-in bookcases and stone fireplace in the family room area to the custom-built island on the kitchen side of the great room.

“Finally,” Addison groaned as she poked her head around the open refrigerator door.

“I’m starving. I hope you’re hungry, Sutton.”

“Sutton! So glad you’re here,” Luna called from the other side of the kitchen as she dumped a blender full of what looked to be margaritas into a pitcher.

Then, to Addison, she said, “Don’t think I didn’t see you inhale one of those tacos already.”

“Lay off me!” Addison gestured to her stomach.

“I’m eating for two here.”

“Please, come in,” Quinn said dryly.

“Make yourselves at home.”

“Chloe and I were going to wait outside.” Luna tipped her chin toward a blonde I’d never seen before.

“But Addison forced us to come in.”

Chloe shot a bright smile from her perch on the couch and waved.

“I just go where they tell me to.”

“Well, I wasn’t going to hang out in here all by myself,” Addison said with a roll of her eyes.

“That’s funny.” Quinn shrugged out of her coat before taking mine and hanging them up.

“I don’t remember giving you a key.”

“I had to pee like a racehorse, so your husband let me in.” Addison shut the fridge, arms overflowing with food.

She made her way to the family room and unloaded what looked like the entirety of the Mexican restaurant in town onto the coffee table.

“After I made Ford grab the chips off the top shelf for me, I shoved him out the door because his services were no longer needed. He said he was working on a project anyway, so he’d be back later. Before he left, my absolute shit of a brother tried to give me a play-by-play of what he was going to do to you tonight. I shut him up when I threatened to throw an avocado at his head.”

“I can verify that.” Luna nodded, carrying the pitcher and several glasses into the family room.

“She kept her brothers in line before, but now, with the pregnancy? They’re all scared of her. Even Brady, though he’ll deny it to his dying breath.”

“They should all be scared of me,” Addison said, dropping down into a chair and ripping open a bag of tortilla chips.

I followed Quinn into the family room and took a seat next to Luna.

I didn’t know how or why, but she had a naturally calming vibe that always seeped into me each time we hung out.

And god knew I could use a bit of that tonight—could’ve used it all week.

She turned to me with a smile and passed me a margarita.

“I’m so glad Quinn talked you into coming.”

“Me too.”

“Of course, I always want to see you,” she said, bumping her shoulder into mine.

“But I also wanted to introduce Chloe to some friendly faces.”

“Then why did you bring Addison?” Quinn said, laughing when her sister-in-law lobbed a chip at her.

“How dare you,” Addison said.

“I’m only mean to my brothers. And they deserve it.”

Chloe grinned, accepting a margarita from Luna.

“I know I’m new, but Addison won points with me with how fast she laid out this spread.”

“I don’t have time to fuck around. I’ve got about twelve minutes before I’ll need to run to the bathroom again.” Addison leaned back in the armchair, her plate full of tacos, guac, and chips balanced on her round stomach as she dug in.

I offered Chloe a warm smile, remembering just how overwhelming, albeit well-meaning, this group of women could be.

“How long have you been in town?”

“Not long. Luna kept talking about how gorgeous it was up here in the fall, and I was itching for a change.” She shrugged.

“So, here I am.”

Luna tipped her head toward Chloe.

“This one’s like a tumbleweed, just rolling wherever the wind blows her.”

Chloe rolled her eyes.

“I’m not that bad.”

“If you say so,” Luna said with a smile.

I took a long sip of my margarita.

“How do you two know each other?”

“We worked at the same massage studio in North Carolina,” Chloe said.

“You’re a massage therapist?” I asked.

“Yes…” she said, trailing off.

Luna laughed and shook her head.

“She means ‘Yes, and…’”

“What kind of code language is that?” Addison asked, splitting her gaze between Luna and Chloe.

“Pregnancy brain is a real thing. Don’t make me feel dumber than I already do.”

Chloe laughed.

“Luna just means I’m not only a massage therapist.”

“What else do you do?” Quinn asked.

“What doesn’t she do?” Luna said, bumping her shoulder into Chloe’s.

“Guilty as charged.” Chloe grinned.

“I’ve been a personal chef, a dog walker, a makeup artist, an au pair for a count in Monaco, a photographer, and a bunch of other things that only lasted a month or two.”

Luna tipped her margarita glass toward Chloe.

“And don’t forget about the artisanal soaps.”

“How could I?” she said with a laugh.

“I still have all the supplies somewhere.”

I glanced at her with raised brows.

“Wow, that is an eclectic resume.”

She shrugged.

“I get bored easily. Besides, I don’t have any commitments tying me down. So I figure, if I don’t do this now, when will I? Starlight Cove is so cute, though! I think I’ll stay for a little while,” Chloe said.

“You’ll probably fall in love like everyone else.”

“I wouldn’t count on that, but it’ll be nice while it lasts,” she said.

“You just moved here a couple of months ago, too, right?”

“Yeah.” I nodded, ignoring the memories those first days in town conjured up.

“Quinn happened to have an opening when my last contract ended, so it was a little serendipitous.”

“Not to mention Mabel scored you that sweet place.” Addison waggled her brows.

“How is it living in that mansion? Atlas’s house is gorgeous .”

“Oh, like you’re one to talk.” Quinn rolled her eyes.

“Your former pro-hockey-playing husband literally built a secluded mountain lodge to your specifications.”

“Not because I asked him to!” She threw her hands in the air.

“I didn’t even know about it when he was building it.”

“Exactly,” Quinn said.

“Addison’s not wrong, though,” Luna said, turning to me.

“It is a gorgeous house.”

That was undeniably true—I’d thought the same when I’d first seen it.

But I’d had no idea just how much that gorgeous house would grow to feel like a home .

Or how bad it would hurt to have it ripped away.

I forced a smile, though I felt like doing anything but.

“It was nice while it lasted, but I’m back in the cottage for now.”

“The cottage?” Quinn asked, her brows furrowed.

“I thought it had to be completely redone. It’s not finished already, is it?” She narrowed her gaze on me, and I could practically see the gears working in her mind.

“And why would you move back there anyway when you and Atlas are together?”

I shrugged, grateful as ever that Luna hadn’t skimped on the tequila, and took another sip of my margarita.

“I’m not so sure we’re together anymore.”

“ No ,” Quinn said, her disappointment seeping through.

“Yeah,” I confirmed.

“God dammit ,” Addison said, slapping a hand down on her leg.

“Why do they always fuck it up before they figure out how to fix it?”

“Seriously.” Luna shook her head.

“Every time.”

“Yeah, well…” I downed the last of my margarita, already eager for another.

“I’m not so sure he’s going to be able to fix this. Or even try to.”

“Men can be really stupid,” Luna said.

“We all know this. But sometimes they pull out a win when you least expect it.”

Quinn nodded.

“She’s right. I don’t know the ins and outs of your relationship, but I’ve seen how he looks at you. And I can safely say that man is head over heels. Don’t give up on him just yet.”

It was another version of what Laurel had already told me.

I wanted their words to be true, desperately.

Wanted to believe them, but I couldn’t bring myself to.

Laurel had seen behind the act, but Quinn had only witnessed the show Atlas and I had put on.

Everything we’d done in public had been pretend.

I offered Quinn a smile, not bothering to correct her assumption.

Because what could I say?

I’m devastated, but oh, by the way, the whole thing started as a lie .

Yeah, I wasn’t going there.

It would only lead to more questions I wasn’t prepared to answer.

Didn’t want to answer.

Because there was no way I could tell them what Atlas and I had was all fake without each of them seeing my pain.

They’d know exactly how hard I’d fallen for a man who’d just been waiting for me to leave.