“Come on, you were so excited.” I took a step closer to Sabrina. I needed her to say yes. I needed to know that things weren’t ruined between us. “It’ll be fun. Plus, we have the charity gala tonight that we need to go to.” I raised my eyebrows, silently urging her to say yes.
“Yeah, Sabrina. Come with us. It’ll be fun.” Katie’s dry tone wasn’t lost on me.
I paused, hating that Katie had inserted herself into our conversation, but I didn’t acknowledge her. She would only be here for a short time. I might as well just go with the flow. What mattered right now was Sabrina. I needed her to stay and not run away like I could feel her wanting to do.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Sabrina nodded. It was slow and methodical, but I could feel her resistance start to fade.
And then she uttered the word that made me want to cheer.
“Okay.”
17
SABRINA
What the hell had I agreed to? Why had I put myself into this situation? This was not how I saw my morning going. I had every intention of slipping out of the hotel room and spending the day alone in Chicago with Samuel when I opened that bedroom door.
It was breaking my heart, listening to Liam and Katie discuss her sudden appearance. It hurt when Katie talked about Ana and how she wanted her mom and dad to be together. I was trying not to listen but, for a fancy hotel, the walls were ridiculously thin. All of my attempts to distract myself were in vain. I heard every word, and I knew what those words meant.
Liam and I could never be together. Not if being together meant that he could lose his daughter or break her heart.
That realization crushed me. It was why I needed to leave that hotel room. I needed some time by myself to lick my wounds and find the strength to get over my stupid crush and be professional. My own child needed me to be strong, even if I felt like crumbling. I was done with being broken. I’d been there before, and I’d almost hurt Samuel.
There was no way I was going to go through that again.
Apparently, all it took was Liam’s wide eyes and desperate pleas to make me abandon my plans. Suddenly, I was throwing out my resolve and climbing into the limo with Samuel, Liam, and his ex, like a woman with no dignity.
I was in trouble.
“I’m starving,” Katie said as she shifted on her seat. She turned her attention out the window as if hoping to catch sight of a restaurant. “I haven’t had breakfast.”
I was tired of feeling confused, so I decided the best course of action was to just do my job. That would give me the distraction I was desperate for. “Do you want me to set up a reservation?” I asked as I started digging around in my purse for my phone.
Katie’s gaze landed on me, and I could feel her appraise me for a moment before she nodded. “That would be great. Besides, I doubt any stores will be open this early.”
“Great,” I said, turning my focus to my phone so I didn’t have to look at her or Liam. I hoped it would dissuade them from engaging me in conversation.
It took me exactly three minutes to locate a restaurant and get us a reservation. Liam’s name was gold and got us right in. I kept my focus on my phone as the limo driver rerouted us in the direction of the restaurant.
Ten minutes after the initial conversation, we were climbing out of the limo and onto the sidewalk.
The Toasted Egg’s doors were open, and the maître d’ greeted us with a wide smile. I kept to the back while Liam carried Samuel through the door and Katie followed after him. I wanted to fight Liam on him helping with Samuel. Even though I’d finally gotten to a place where I was okay with his assistance, that was prior to Katie’s arrival. Now his eagerness to help me take care of Samuel felt strange, especially in front of his ex.
Katie’s presence was the stark reminder that I was in desperate need of. Liam was not mine. We were never going to be the family I wanted so badly. He was not my husband, and Samuel was not his son. Maybe when we were alone, I could dabble in that fantasy, but now, reality had come crashing down on me like a ton of bricks.
He was Katie’s ex and Ana’s dad. They were more his family than Samuel and I would ever be.
We got seated in the back. Liam was right; I was getting used to the cameras, stares, and whispers. I’d barely noticed the hush that fell over the patrons as we weaved between the tables. It was nice, not stressing out about what other people thought. Especially when I knew the truth.
I was only his assistant. With Katie around, the focus would be on her and Liam and if they were getting back together. The stories about me begin Liam’s baby momma would be overshadowed by speculations on their relationship. I could go back to being the unknown assistant hidden in the shadows.
That was where I belonged.
The waiter came by and introduced himself to us. After he handed out menus, he took our drink orders. I asked for a water and Katie got a diet Coke. I don’t know what came over me, but, when he got to Liam, I decided the best thing an assistant could do was order for him.
“He’ll have a cold brew concentrate,” I said just as Katie said, “He’ll have a hot chocolate with whipped cream and mini marshmallows.”
I stopped and looked at her, and she did the same. I frowned, and she frowned back.
