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The argument I had with Liam replayed in my mind, how I didn’t know anything about Gideon. How none of the suspicious shit started happening until he entered the picture.
How maybehewas the one behind the necklaces.
How I didn’t know anything about him.
But what was I going to do? Take this condom and ask Melanie’s dad if he’d have someone at his security company run Gideon’s DNA? For what? To see if it matched any DNA they found on the necklaces I’d received?
Or worse, to see if Gideon’s DNA matched my ex-boyfriend?
Mydeadex-boyfriend.
Mydeadex-boyfriend, who looked nothing like Gideon, apart from the eyes.
But even those were missing something, just like my mama said the other night.
Samuel had always radiated an infectious energy, always ready for an adventure at a moment’s notice. His mere presence could light up a room.
Gideon was…different. More burdened and haunted. There was a sadness in his eyes and a tension in his shoulders that spoke of a troubled past. It probably had something to do with losing his parents in the car accident that left his body scarred. I’d wanted to ask for more details, but didn’t want to spoil our time together.
So what if Gideon did crossword puzzles like Samuel? Told Ollie to heel like Samuel? Kissed me like Samuel?
Hewasn’tSamuel.
I promised myself I’d stop living in the past. And that was exactly what I would do.
Not to mention the police had already identified the guy who gave me the necklaces, and it wasn’t Gideon. While it was certainly troubling that Benjamin Astor’s body had been found on Liam’s boat, it didn’t mean Gideon was involved.
I was just allowing Liam under my skin. I wasn’t going to let him. Not anymore. No more doing whatever Liam asked of me, simply because of the guilt I felt for the role my sperm donor played in his shitty upbringing.
Without giving the condom or Liam’s misplaced concerns a second thought, I collected my things and continued out of my room.
As I stepped into the bustling lobby, I found Lachlan and Mama talking with Melanie and her parents.
“It was so good seeing you again, sweetie.” Olivia wrapped me in a hug when I approached. “You’ll be up in Boston in a few weeks, correct?”
“The team has a game there in May, I believe.”
“Try to clear some time for us, if you can.”
“I’m happy to,” I assured her before hugging Alexander.
Once he released me, I turned toward Lachlan, who squeezed me tightly, leaving a tender kiss on my temple.
“Take care of yourself, kid.”
I rolled my eyes, feigning annoyance at the nickname he gave me when he started dating my mom all those years ago. Even though I was now in my thirties, I wouldn’t want him to call me anything else.
“Of course.”
“I’ll miss you, sweetie,” Mama said, wrapping her arms around me. “But I’m happy for you.” She pulled back, holding my biceps. “California looks good on you.” She lowered her voice. “Or maybe it’s a certainsomeonewho looks good on you.”
“Maybe it’s both.”
“You deserve it. And don’t let anyone else make you think otherwise.” She gave me a knowing look.
“I won’t.”
“Speaking of which…” She nodded toward the lobby doors as Gideon entered, looking absolutely sinful in his linen shirt and jeans. Then again, he could probably make a paper sack look good. “Looks like your ride’s here.”
