“You two are anything but.”
“Yeah. No kidding.” With a sigh, I set my spoon down. “He proposed an arrangement. We acknowledge what’s between us, but when my project ends, we both walk away clean. No complications, no drama, no expectations.”
Overhead, a catchy, upbeat pop song started playing, sung by a woman with a throaty yet playful voice. Lila immediately started bobbing her head, humming along to the chorus.
“You too?” I asked with a frown. “I heard this at the grocery store yesterday.”
Lila stopped humming and stared at me. “Tessa, please tell me you know who Sutton Vale is.”
I ran through my mental catalog but came up empty. “Should I?”
“She’s only the biggest pop star on the planet. Grammy winner?” She shook her head, laughing. “God, you really have been living under a rock. Or underwater.”
“I’ve been busy,” I defended before taking another bite of ice cream.
“Yeah, which gets me back to the topic of discussion. Let me get this straight… Braden, who maybe I should or shouldn’t mention isn’t known for his relationships with women, wants a casual, time-limited fling?”
“It’s not a fling. I, um…” I struggled for the words. “It’s acknowledging reality. I have a life in California. This is a temporary assignment.”
“Uh-huh.” Lila took a deliberate bite of her ice cream. “And you agreed to this?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
The question caught me off guard. I picked up my spoon and took a bite of the tangy ice cream, using the time to gather my thoughts. “Because he’s right. In twelve weeks, I’m getting on a plane and going back to my real life. This way, we both know what we’re getting into. We can spend time together without anyone getting hurt.”
Lila set her spoon down with a clack. “Tessa, honey, I say this with love—that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
I blinked. “Excuse me?”
“You think you can spend twelve weeks with your ex, diving together, working together, sleeping together, and then just walk away? With nobody getting hurt?” She shook her head. “You’re playing with dynamite.”
“It’s not like that?—”
“It’s exactly like that.” Lila’s voice was gentle but firm. “I’ve watched Braden for twelve years. I’ve seen him build that business, watched him pour everything into making something of himself. You know what I haven’t seen? Him look at another woman the way he used to look at you.”
My stomach tightened into a hard knot.
“Look, I’m not saying don’t do this. But don’t fool yourself about what it is. Braden might be trying to protect himself with rules and boundaries, but I have a feeling his heart might not work that way. Or yours.”
My defensive wall slammed into place. “You don’t know what my heart does.”
Lila’s expression softened instantly. She held up her hands in surrender. “You’re right. I’m sorry. That was out of line. It’s just...” She trailed off, shaking her head as if frustrated with herself.
The anger drained out of me, replaced by a weary ache. I’d asked Lila to discuss this very situation, and I was already pushing her away. “No. Don’t stop. Please. What were you going to say?”
She hesitated, then leaned forward. “I remember how it was back then. All that pressure from your parents about being made for something bigger, something more. The idea that staying here meant giving up.” She paused, choosing her words carefully. “And now you’re back, and I just wonder if you’re seeing that small isn’t the same thing as less.”
The words landed right on the bruise I’d been nursing for a week. I couldn’t speak. I just stared down at my melting ice cream.
“Look,” Lila continued gently. “It’s great that you two are talking. But Braden’s not the same kid you left. He’s built a good life here. So be careful. With his heart, and with yours.”
“Thanks. I’ll try.” I finally managed a small, tight nod. I stood up, my legs feeling unsteady. “I should go. I need to get ready. We’re going out tonight.”
Lila stood, too, rounding the table to give me a hug. “I’m on your side. Always.”
“I know. And thanks for sharing what was on yourmind. I needed to hear it. I’m not sure what will happen tonight, but I feel better having talked it out with you.”
