I needed to hear that. To know someone else was in my corner. Once I told my parents, they’d react the same way. I wasn’t alone. Never had been and never would be. And neither was Millie.
We’d fight. With everything we had in us, we’d fight to keep her.
“All right,” I said. “Where’s that wine you bragged about?”
Izzy did a great job distracting Millie and me during dinner. We’d had so much fun with her new PlayStation, our smiles were still firmly stuck in place when we entered the foyer of our apartment building.
“You’re out late. And on a school night no less.”
The blood in my veins became ice. I hadn’t seen or spoken to her since Clara’s funeral, but I’d never forget her voice. So cold, so superior.
So detached.
Slowly turning, I locked gazes with the boogeyman my nightmares were made of. Only she didn’t look like the monster of my dreams. This woman strutting toward me with her slicked-back hair and Louis Vittone heels was sleek and beautiful.
“Taelyn.”
“Oh, Kate, don’t look at me like that. You know this is for the best.”
“Best for whom?” The words came out steady and calm, in stark contrast to the crazy rhythm of my heart. “For you and Duke? For me?” I lowered my voice. “Forher?”
Taelyn’s gaze dropped to Millie. Something about her must have put Millie on guard because she’d tucked her small body behind me.
“Don’t bother fighting this, Kate,” Taelyn hissed. “You’re goingto lose.”
I had nothing to say to her. Or rather, nothing suitable for Millie’s ears. That was why I scooped up my girl and took the stairs to our apartment. Millie didn’t say a word. She didn’t even want to watch a few music videos of our favorite K-pop boy band.
It was only when she was tucked in bed that her words finally came.
“I don’t like that lady.”
That’s all she said, but it was enough. Enough for me to imagine what kind of life Millie would have with Taelyn and Duke. Enough for me to pull out my phone and message the one person I never thought I would.
Chapter seven
Tristan
Kate:Maybe I was wrong to say no.
I reread Kate’s message. Then did the only thing I could. I pulled up her number and hit dial.
“Tristan?” I huffed out a relieved breath when her voice filtered through the line. “Explain.”
“Really?” She sighed, and I pictured her rolling her eyes. “You want me to spell it out?” She lowered her voice. There was rustling in the background then a door clicked shut.
My mind conjured the image of Kate leaving her lover’s bed to talk to me. For reasons I’d never know, the thought had my hackles rising.
“Is this a good time?” The words came out clipped, and dammit, I felt like the asshole she’d accused me of being.
But my tone didn't faze her in the slightest. It never did.
“Since when do you care about my time?” A smile warmed her voice, and shit, if my lips didn’t twitch in response.
“Since when do you text me in the middle of the night?”
There was a long pause. Too long. “I didn’t think. This could’ve probably waited until morning.”
“Don’t hang up.” I sounded desperate. Why did I sound fucking desperate? “Are you reconsidering?”
