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“What?”
“I cheated once. With your father.”
My jaw dropped. “You did?”
“It was the first and only time, and I felt terrible about it. And, as you know, I went on to marry your dad. But I should’ve broken things off with the man I was seeing before I ever started spending time with your father.”
“Wow.”
“Horrible acts don’t make horrible people, Talia. Good people can make mistakes, too.”
We talked for a while longer after that. About guilt. About grief. About how sometimes people make reckless choices when they’re hurting and don’t know where to put the pain. Mostly she listened.
“The most important thing you need to do is be honest with yourself now,” she said.
“I know.”
“Sometimes being honest isn’t what’s easiest. You have to figure out what’s true for you.”
I swallowed. “What if the truth hurts someone?”
“It sounds like it probably will, honey. But lies always hurt more in the end.”
We said goodbye a few minutes later, and I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at my phone. My mother gave good advice. Being true to myself was the answer. The problem was, I wasn’t sure what the truth was anymore.
Calder was going to be back from his errands any minute. I wasn’t ready to face him, so I decided to go for a run. I quickly changed and ran down the stairs, hoping not to see him with my blotchy face.
As I passed Rafe’s apartment, he called after me. “Talia.”
I went to the door, but didn’t dare step inside.
Rafe’s face was hard. “We need to keep our distance from now on.”
I nodded. “I know.”
“Don’t come here again. Not while you’re still with him.”
CHAPTER 21
A couple of weeks later, Liz passed by my desk late one Friday morning. “Great suggestions on the Amelia Lee manuscript.”
“Thank you,” I replied, shocked that she felt that way. It seemed to me like I was barely getting by lately, even though I’d been trying hard to focus on work. This job was my only saving grace, considering my home life was in shambles.
“We’re closing the office a bit early today because they have to clean the carpets,” she added. “You can head home and work remotely any time after two.”
“Oh.” I nodded. “Okay. Thank you for letting me know.” That sucks. I relished every moment I could spend out of the house these days.
Liz smiled and tapped my desk two times before she took off.
“Or we could just go out for drinks and say we’re working from home.” Lacey snickered behind me.
“Now that’s an idea…” I turned and grinned, ready to take her up on it.
But then she snapped her fingers. “Shoot. I probably shouldn’t. I really need to pick out a dress for a friend’s wedding I have to attend next weekend. I’d been wondering when I’d have the time to shop.” She checked her phone. “Looks like now I do.”
“Well, don’t let me stop you,” I said, a bit disappointed.
“Wanna come with? I could use a second set of eyes for the dresses.”
