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“You’re too kind, Ellie. I can see what Connor and Syd see in you.”
“Thanks, but don’t write yourself off either. Syd and Connor have a special bond because he raised her and, quite honestly, I do believe the best place for her right now is with Connor, but there is room for you in her life too. You need to get to know her slowly. Taking her to fancy restaurants that she couldn’t care less about isn’t the way to do that,” I advise.
“I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t have a maternal bone in my body,” she snickers.
“That just isn’t true.”
Sybil smiles and her blue eyes crease at the corners. “I’m going to drop the custody suit. My family can fuck off. I’m also breaking up with Warren. I deserve better.”
“You do,” I agree.
Her eyes drop to the ring on my finger. “You’re lucky to have Connor.”
Her words don’t sit right with me because I don’t have Connor. This was always meant to be our deal because of the custody suit.
“Did you love Connor?” I swallow, unable to stop myself from asking.
I hold my breath. “We were both young. I didn’t know what love was, I still don’t. It was physical between us. We were horny teenagers. Connor was dealing with a lot at home. I was his way to blow off steam.”
Her words have a calming effect on me, even though they shouldn’t because our marriage of convenience is no longer convenient.
“I see.”
Sybil reaches across the counter and takes my hand and gives it a squeeze. “I’m happy for you guys but I don’t want Connor. We never really had anything in common, but I could use your help with Syd.”
“I’d love to help you,” I reply. “Syd has so much love to give. She would be so happy to have you in her life in the right way.”
“And you think Connor would go for that?” she asks.
“I’ll convince him,” I assure.
Sybil reaches over to organize the pictures of Warren touching me and she places them back in the envelope. “I’m assuming these are just copies?”
“Yes,” I confirm. “You can take the recorder too,” I offer.
“Thanks, my parents are going to be pissed when I call off the engagement. I need as much fuel to show them why it would have been terrible to marry Warren, even though I am guessing that they’ll care more about the business deal.”
“I know how that feels, I haven’t spoken to my family in years,” I say.
“Well, I kind of like my lifestyle. I don’t think I can give it up, and my mom and I are close. I’m hoping I can get her to see reason and convince my father that I matter more than the family business.”
Sybil walks over to the fridge and takes out a water pitcher that has pieces of fresh watermelon inside it. She pours herself and me a glass.
I lift mine. “To new beginnings.”
“To new beginnings.” She smiles and then we both drink.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FOUR
Ellie
Before I boarded the plane back to New York, I texted Connor the good news Sybil was going to withdraw the lawsuit. I told him I would give him more details when I got back because I had no reason to stay in Vancouver. So I boarded the next plane and now we are in midair and I am sad because there really isn’t any reason for Connor and me to marry. I know he’ll go through with it for Nana’s sake, but it feels unfair to ask him to make such a gesture for a woman he hasn’t known that long. There is also the issue that I don’t think I can just go back to being Syd’s nanny. Where would that leave me and Connor? Truth is, I can’t picture my life without him and Syd in it, and so my stomach turns the entire flight back into the city. When I arrive at the airport, I am expecting to take an Uber back to the apartment when I spot Connor and Syd waiting for me in arrivals.
“What are you two doing here?” I ask, feeling tired and hungry.
“You told me the flight you were on, and we missed you today.” He shrugs as if it isn’t the perfect answer.
I give each of them a hug. I know he has a million questions by the way he looks into my eyes, searching for what went down in Canada, but I obviously keep it under wraps with Syd around.
