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“It worked, didn’t it?” Mellie grins wide.
“It did, indeed,” I say dryly.
Beth’s mouth opens and closes, and finally, she says, “I think there must be more to this story.”
Allie leans in. “And...?”
“We kissed,” I admit. “And it was so good. I didn’t want to stop.”
“Well, why did you?” Mellie asks.
“You came home!” I laugh.
“Ugh, I told Ty you needed more time,” she says.
“I knew it!” Allie says smugly. “You and Preston have amazing chemistry.”
“Did you guys know he’s covered in tattoos under his pressed dress shirts? Like, his whole back, his shoulders, and his upper arms?”
“Preston has tattoos?” Beth asks, looking confused. “Preston?”
“Yeah! That’s what I was thinking, too. I think it’s to get back at his family. I met his brother and future sister-in-law, by the way. Not a fan.” I reach for the curling wand and start working on Beth’s hair as I smile down at the tiny baby she’s holding in her arms.
“Logan’s told me about those two,” Allie says in disgust as she applies eyeshadow to Mellie’s closed lids.
“How they can treat him like that is beyond me. They are the worst.”
“What were they like?” Beth asks.
“Her name is Olivia, and she seems totally soulless. She strolled into his office with his brother Blake like she had a right to be there. I can tell it really bothered Preston. I hated it. He looked so... detached when they were there. It was sad.”
I don’t have any siblings, but if I did, I would want to be close with them. Blake and Olivia are not nice people.
“What did you do?” Mellie asks, looking irritated on Preston’s behalf.
“I took back the coffees I had given them before I realized they were shitbags and told them to get out,” I say, spraying one of Beth’s curls.
Allie laughs. “Of course you did. And what did Preston do when you did that?”
“I think he liked it. He seemed surprised that I stood up for him, but why wouldn’t I? You guys were right. Somebody has to.”
“Preston needs someone like you to shake things up for him and give him that.”
“I’m just not sure if I’m the one to do that,” I say, fluffing the waves of Beth’s hair. “We’re just not the same.”
“Nobody wants to be with themselves,” Allie says. “Logan’s a millionaire and a successful literary agent. I’m a single mom who bakes. I can’t imagine spending another day without him. He’s my person. My soulmate.”
“How did you know he was your person?” I ask.
“Because when I thought of him being with someone else, it made me sick to my stomach with dread and panic. I want to be with him through the good, bad, and ugly. I want everything with him.” She smiles at me.
“Could you honestly see Preston with another woman and not be bothered?”
“Well, no. I saw his ex, and I wanted to kick her all the way out of Freedom Valley and tell her to never come back.”
“Well, it sounds like you pretty much did.” Beth laughs. “There’s your answer.”
“But how can Preston and I be together if we can’t even stand each other?”
