Page 8

Chapter Seven

Savannah

My phone buzzes in my hand, and for a second, I consider ignoring it. But then I see her name flash on the screen, and I remember why I’m here in the first place.

Millie. The one person who might be able to help me salvage this shitstorm of a life I’ve landed in.

“Hey, Millie,” I answer, trying to sound upbeat like I’m not sitting here with my life crumbling around me.

“Savannah, hi! I just wanted to confirm we’re still on for today.” Millie’s voice is bright, but there’s a hint of stress behind it.

“Yeah, of course,” I reply quickly, trying to muster some kind of enthusiasm. “I’m ready whenever.”

“Well, slight change of plans,” she says, her tone softening. “Luna, one of my little ones, was unwell all night. Finn took her to the hospital this morning, so if you don’t mind, could you come to my house instead? It’ll be quieter, and we can still do the interview.”

I pause, feeling a pang of guilt for even thinking about my mess when she’s dealing with a sick kid. “Oh, sure. No problem. I’ll head over.”

“Thank you so much. I’ll text you the address,” she says, her relief palpable. “I really appreciate it, Savannah. See you soon.”

I hang up and stare at the phone for a moment, trying to steady my breathing. At least I have somewhere to go. Somewhere that isn’t this fucking curb.

The address pings on my phone, and I plug it into Uber. A few minutes later, I’m on my way, staring out at the passing buildings of Chicago, my thoughts scattered.

I barely register the drive as I think about everything that’s happened. How the hell did I end up here, scammed out of an apartment, stranded with nowhere to go?

The Uber pulls up to Millie’s house, and I blink in surprise. Gorgeous doesn’t even begin to describe it. It’s the kind of place you see in magazines—tall, elegant, with a perfect lawn and at least four cars in the driveway.

I hesitate for a second, feeling out of place, but then I remind myself that I’m here for the interview. Focus, Savannah. You need this.

I grab my bags and step out of the car, staring up at the house. The front door swings open before I even make it to the porch, and Millie steps out, looking like some ethereal goddess in a flowy dress, her long hair loose around her shoulders. A massive dog bounds out beside her, wagging its tail.

“Savannah!” she calls, waving. “Come on in!”

I manage a smile and walk toward her, my nerves jangling. “Hey, Millie. Wow, your place is…incredible.”

Millie grins and pulls me into a hug. “Thanks! And this is Peanut,” she says, motioning to the dog, who immediately sniffs my legs and wags his tail harder. “He’s a total softie.”

I laugh, scratching behind Peanut’s ears. “Hey, Peanut. You’re a good boy, huh?”

“Come on in,” Millie says, holding the door open for me. “I’m sorry about the chaos today. With Luna not feeling well and everything, it’s been a bit crazy.”

“No, don’t apologize,” I say quickly. “I’m just grateful you’re still able to meet with me.”

As I step inside, I’m hit with the warmth of the place. It’s cozy but still somehow huge, with high ceilings and sunlight streaming in through big windows. There’s a mix of toys scattered around, and photos line the walls—pictures of Millie, her kids, and… two husbands ? Wait, three husbands!

“Wow,” I murmur, taking in the family photos. “Your family…”

Millie chuckles. “Yeah, I get that reaction a lot. It’s a bit unconventional, but it works for us.”

Before I can respond, a tall man with dark hair and an easy smile walks into the room. “Savannah, right? I’m Chase,” he says, extending a hand.

I shake it, still a bit stunned by how perfect everything is here. “Nice to meet you, Chase.”

“And that’s Declan,” Millie says, pointing to another man, who’s coming out of what looks like a home office. He’s just as handsome as Chase, with a sharp jawline and an air of quiet confidence.

“Hi, Savannah,” Declan says with a nod. “Millie’s told us a lot about you.”

I blink, trying to process it all. “You have a beautiful family.”

Millie’s face lights up. “Thanks. We’re really lucky.” She pauses, her eyes softening. “But I get that it can be a lot to take in at first.”

“No, it’s amazing,” I say, shaking my head. “Really.”

“ Baby, I have put the kids to bed. I’m going to check on Finn and Luna before I head over to the rink,” Declan says.

Millie nods and then I watch as both of the men walk over and kiss her one after the other. Her cheeks are tinged pink by the time they walk out of the house.

“Sorry about that,” she blushes. “Finn is my other husband. He and Declan play hockey together.”

“Interesting,” I smile at her. “And Chase?”

“Oh, he’s a vet.”

Millie leads me to a cozy corner of the living room where they’ve already set up for the interview. There’s a small camera, some soft lighting, and a couple of chairs positioned for filming.

“Tea?” Millie offers, holding up a teapot. “I find it helps with nerves.”

“God, yes, please,” I laugh, sitting down and trying to relax. “I could definitely use it.”

Millie hands me a cup and sits across from me, her expression kind. “How are you feeling? Nervous?”

“Yeah,” I admit, taking a sip of the tea. “This interview…it’s a lot.”

“I get it,” she says softly. “I’ve been there. But you’ve got this.”

We make small talk for a bit, catching up on life, and for a while, it almost feels normal. But then the camera clicks on, and the reality of why I’m here hits me like a freight train.

Millie’s asking about Lemons , about my mom, and suddenly, I’m not sure I can hold it together.

“So, tell me what happened after your mom passed,” Millie says gently. “You were running the restaurant on your own?”

I nod, swallowing hard. “No. My best friend, or someone I thought was my best friend, helped me. Her name’s Layla. But mostly, yeah. It was just me. And for a while, I thought I could handle it. I thought I was strong enough, but…after the food poisoning incident, everything fell apart. I’m the one who ruined it all.”

Millie reaches out, placing her hand on mine. “You didn’t ruin anything, Savannah. You were going through something incredibly difficult.”

I look down at my lap, my throat tightening. “I just…I don’t know what I’m doing anymore. And now, I don’t even have a place to stay. I’m such a mess.”

Millie stands up and pulls me into a hug, and for the first time in days, I let myself cry. The tears come fast, spilling out of me as I cling to her. “I’m sorry,” I sob. “I didn’t mean to dump all this on you.”

“Hey, stop,” she says, rubbing my back. “You’re not dumping anything on anyone. I’ve been through this, remember? After my public breakup with my ex…it was brutal. I thought I’d never recover.”

I pull back, wiping my eyes. “But look at you now. You’re happy, successful. You made it.”

“And so will you,” she says firmly. “You just need a little help, and I’m more than happy to give it.”

I nod, trying to keep it together. “I appreciate it, but I don’t even know where to go. I got scammed out of the apartment I was supposed to rent.”

Millie’s eyes widen. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah,” I say, laughing bitterly. “So now I’m here, in Chicago, with nowhere to live.”

Millie sits back, thinking for a moment. Then she brightens. “I have an idea. My husband’s friend Troy has an extra place, and he’s been looking for someone to help out with cooking. He’s a hockey player too, so he’s rarely home. You could stay there in exchange for meals. He’s a good guy. Besides, it’s temporary until you get back on your feet.”

I hesitate. “I don’t know…I don’t want to be a burden.”

“You wouldn’t be,” she insists. “Troy would love the company, and you’re an amazing chef. It’s a win-win.”

I sigh, knowing I don’t really have a choice. “Okay. I’ll do it.”

Millie grins. “Perfect. I’ll set it up. And don’t worry, Savannah. Things are going to get better.”

I nod, smiling through my tears, hoping to God she’s right.