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Was that even a possibility?
CHAPTER3
ALICE
Gray walked into the room, eying the small stack of boxes by the door. “Are you ready to put these in the truck?”
“Absolutely,” I said, grateful for his interruption. It was hard to believe that these boxes contained everything I owned, and most of it was art supplies. After living here for three years, I had very little to show for it. I had some clothes I’d acquired over the years, a few hand-me-downs from Elle and her friends, and some new things that I’d bought from box stores. I left all my old clothes and things at my parents’ house.
That life was so different from the one I led now. Back then, I cared about what I looked like and wearing designer names, but now, none of that mattered.
I felt good when Amelia smiled at me. When she told me I was her favorite aunt in the whole world. And it didn’t matter that she said it because I handed her a chocolate chip cookie. I felt her words deep down in my soul. I couldn’t get enough of them.
My chest ached with emotion. I was going to miss living with Amelia, listening for her soft patter of feet that signaled the beginning of the day.
“Let’s do this,” Gray said as he stacked two boxes in his arms and headed toward the front door.
“Are you sure about this?” Elle asked when he was gone.
I smiled sadly. “It makes more sense for me to live with him since Sam works so early in the morning.”
Elle raised a brow. “Are you moving back at some point?”
I’d avoided this question all week. “I need to live on my own.”
Elle’s shoulders tensed. “Don’t you think you should get an apartment, not live with someone else?”
“I looked. The prices are out of my range. Even with this new job, I’d have to get a roommate.” I was so happy Sam offered me a job that I hadn’t discussed salary, but I wouldn’t admit that to Elle. It was one more reason why I was a screwup. The sad fact was, I didn’t know anyone outside of Elle and Gray and their friends.
“I agree you could be more independent, but I’m not sure about this job. You’ll be living with Sam when you barely know him.”
“It will be like having a roommate or going to college and living in the dorms.” Living with Sam would be none of those things because I was attracted to him. I needed to get over it because I’d be working for him, taking care of his daughter, and sleeping a few rooms down from him.
Gray came in for another round of boxes, barely sparing a glance before leaving again.
Elle pursed her lips. “I don’t know about this.”
“I need to do this on my own. Maybe it’s not exactly what I need, but it’s a step in the right direction.” I wanted Elle to support me. She was all I had.
“But you promised Sam you’d stay, and it could be years before his daughter doesn’t need you.”
“Maggie’s the same age as Amelia. She’ll be going to kindergarten in a year or two.” I wasn’t sure of her exact birthday. She’d be in school full time soon, and I’d start my new life then.
“Why can’t you start your life now?”
“I don’t know what to do.” I’d cut myself off from my parents, so attending college was out of the question. I couldn’t afford it, and at this point, I was too old to live in the dorms. I’d need to commute, which meant an apartment I couldn’t afford. It was out of the question. “Without college, what job could I get?”
“You could always work at the barbershop,” Elle offered.
It wasn’t the first time she’d mentioned this.
“I need to do this on my own.” I didn’t want to be a hairstylist, so my only job options at her barbershop were receptionist or hair washer. That wasn’t what I wanted. Plus, I’d be working for my sister. I really wanted to forge my own way. Prove I wasn’t as useless as I felt most of the time.
Elle hugged me. “You’re always welcome here. We’re going to miss you.”
“You’ll love having an empty”—Amelia ran into the room—“well, almost empty house.”
“When can I meet Maggie?” Amelia asked me.
