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She trembled as I stared down at her. “I’m not perfect.”
“I never asked you to be,” I yelled, and she flinched. “Stay away from Holt.” I stuck my finger in her face. “Do you understand me?”
She nodded, her eyes glistening. She didn’t get to cry over this. It washerfault we were here. Hers.
“Do. You. Understand. Me?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “Andrew. Please.”
Unable to stand the sight of her any longer, I strode out of the restaurant, Victor on my heels. He easily caught up to me, matching my long strides. “That was . . . awkward.”
“You coming to the bar or calling it a night?” I couldn’t go home. Not after that encounter. How dare she act like the victim. Marlow was the victim. Holt was the victim. Dad. Me. Not her. Not fucking her.
“I’ll text Whitley.”
Chapter Nineteen
Trish
“I knowit’s been rough, but you deserved a few days off.”
Baker held the door open for me as we left Paths of Purpose for the morning.
“I’m worried about Ella. I’m worried about business,” I confessed. I still wasn’t sure leaving her at the daycare at Paths was a good idea. It had been a week, and my daughter was much better, but I felt I was being torn in two directions.
“Your fans will be waiting on you. And Ella’s a champ.” She elbowed me in the side. “Don’t tell her, but I kinda missed that loud voice of hers.”
“Me too.” I relaxed a fraction, nudging her back. “And thanks for helping me with her. You shouldn’t have taken any time off.”
She shrugged, but it was a bigger deal than she let on. “Love that little girl. She scared the shit out of me. And a lot of other people too.”
Vivian and Daniel had been by every single day to check on her. As well as Muriella and Holly. I’d insisted Sonya stay away because she was pregnant. After a lot of cursing, she agreed and sent her husband in her place.
We had a family now. A real one. And my heart was full of gratitude for all of them.
“Big day at work?”
She brightened. “Photo shoot day for the new cover. And I get to go. Hayden warned me it’s going to be brutal, but I don’t care.”
“Good thing I packed extra in your lunch.”
“I’m eating it no matter what. Hayden is going to love the salad you made for her too.”
Baker’s mentor had really taken her under her wing. Nothing about the magazine was off-limits. Sometimes it seemed like Hayden was grooming her to take over, which was insane. I loved Baker with all my heart. She was more than capable. But she had no experience. Which made me like Hayden even more. She took her responsibility as mentor seriously.
“Hopefully, it will earn you some brownie points.” I stopped at the gate to the parking lot where Delores was waiting, good as new. “Want a ride to work?”
“Nah.” She gave me a quick hug. “Have an awesome day. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Text me pictures of the shoot if you can.”
Her eyes lit. “Oh, I so will.”
She practically skipped off, and I watched her for a minute, happy for my friend. Her resiliency amazed me. She exemplified what the human spirit was capable of.
I crossed the lot and unlocked my truck. “Okay, old girl. Let’s do this.”
“You’re back.I was so afraid you were gone.”
