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“Remember, I’m bringing her with us to the first day of school tomorrow.”
Her lower lip protruded. “Why can’t she go to school with me?”
“Her dad didn’t mention anything about school.” I hadn’t asked either. Maybe Maggie’s birthday meant she missed the cutoff for preschool this year.
“Maybe we can play after school?” Amelia persisted.
“The first day, we have plans to go to the bakery for a cupcake,” Elle gently reminded her.
“Yay for cupcakes,” Amelia said.
Elle smiled. “They’re so easy to please at this age.”
Gray paused in the doorway. “That’s everything. You ready to go?”
I took in the room where I’d spent the last few years. It had been my safety net. My haven from the life I’d fled in California. At the same time, it felt like my life had been in a holding pattern. I wasn’t going backward, but I wasn’t going forward either.
I’d healed a part of myself that craved true human connection. Not hanging out with fake friends and social climbers but rather, with people who cared about me. It was hard to believe I’d almost ruined everything for Elle and Gray with my past mistakes.
By all accounts, they’d be right to never speak to me again, but Elle took me in and gave me a second chance. I’d always be grateful for that.
“It’s not forever. I’ll visit often. I’ll want to see Amelia.” I patted Amelia’s hair.
Elle sniffed. “At least you’ll just be across town. It’s not like you’re moving back home.”
I shivered at the idea of going back to California. “There’s nothing for me there.”
“Mom and Dad,” Elle pointed out.
“They want me to do something different. There was so much pressure to be successful.” And it had nothing to do with a job or college. They wanted me to be famous like Elle had been. Elle always said she was more like infamous because of her bad-girl reputation. But the reality show she’d landed was scripted. She wasn’t anything like how they portrayed her on TV, whereas I was the villain in our story.
I was forever grateful that Elle and Gray seemingly had put it behind them, but I couldn’t. It was a stain on my soul that would follow me everywhere.
I hugged Elle and Amelia, promising I’d see them tomorrow.
Gray walked me out. “If you need anything, spending money or anything, please let me know.”
“I can’t take anything more from you. You’ve already done so much.”
He tipped his head. “You’re our sister. We’d do anything for you.”
My heart pinched painfully, and my eyes stung with unshed tears. “Thank you for everything.”
Gray pulled me in for a hug, which surprised me. He wasn’t overly demonstrative, especially with me.
When I moved to get in the car, Gray said, “Good luck.”
They’d offered to come with me, but this was something I needed to do myself. I waved as I drove away from my home and toward my new life. I hoped it was the right move. I couldn’t afford any more wrong ones. I felt fragile. The last few years mended some of my wounds, but the deep ones hadn’t healed yet.
I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life, but I hoped that getting some space from Elle would help with that.
At Sam’s, I knocked on the door, nerves making my stomach flutter with anticipation. When he opened it, he said, “You made it.”
“Were you worried I wouldn’t?” A smile tugged at my lips despite my anxiety.
He let out a breath. “I’m not going to lie; the last few months have been rough.”
“I’m hoping to change that for you.”
