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“What?” Beth screeched, drawing looks from people close to us. “You kissed Lincoln?”
I nodded. “The second time.”
Beth’s brows pulled together. “The second time? Does that mean he kissed you a first time?”
I bit down on my bottom lip and nodded again.
Beth’s eyes widened with a gasp. “But what about Amber?”
“Amber?” My brows furrowed in confusion. “Who’s Amber?”
Beth made an oh, shit face but didn’t answer.
My stomach knotted in discomfort, like when you know you’re about to get bad news. “Who is Amber, Beth?”
Beth sighed. “Lincoln’s girlfriend.”
My heart sank. I felt like I’d been punched in the stomach. Of course, Lincoln had a girlfriend. How could he not after so long? No wonder he’d stopped me from kissing him.
“I’m sorry. I thought you knew,” Beth apologized.
I felt like the walls were closing in on me. I was stupid to think Lincoln and I had a chance of working things out. Fairy tales didn’t exist. Love stories were for books and movies, not real life.
I blinked several times, trying to process everything. Why didn’t he tell me he had a girlfriend? Were they serious? Did she know about me? About Piper?
I needed answers. I scrambled to get out of the booth. “I have to go.”
Beth looked up at me apologetically. “I’m sorry, Liv. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
I grabbed my purse. “You did nothing wrong.” I felt bad for leaving my friend, but I had to get out of there. “Can I get a raincheck on brunch?”
She gave me a sad smile. “Of course. Text me later.”
I rushed out of the café to my car, then drove to Lincoln’s. His truck wasn’t there. I assumed he was with Amber, and jealousy flowed through me.
I had no right to be jealous, but I was. In my mind, Lincoln was mine. It didn’t matter that I’d left him almost a decade before. We had a child together. We had history.
And he had my heart. Always had, always would.
I turned my car around and drove back to the road. I decided to visit my mom since I hadn’t seen her in a few days. I didn’t want to go back to the hotel and sulk around by myself for the rest of the day, plus I needed to tell her about Piper while my dad wasn’t around. He spent Sundays at the church, so it was the perfect opportunity.
She must’ve heard me coming down the gravel drive because she was exiting the house as I pulled up. A huge smile lit up her face as she waited for me on the porch.
As I stepped out of the car, she teased, “I was beginning to think you left town again since I hadn’t heard from you in so long.”
Ouch. I deserved that one. I climbed up the stairs to meet her on the porch. “I’m sorry, Mom. I’ve been really busy with this project and Piper.”
She placed her arm around me and led me toward the house. “Come in and tell me all about it.”
The old screen door creaked as she opened it and ushered me inside. We went into the sitting room where a book was splayed open, pages down in my mom’s favorite chair.
I sat in the loveseat next to her chair as she picked up her book and set it on the coffee table, then plopped down in the worn floral seat.
I chuckled. “I think you need a new chair, Mom. That one’s older than I am.”
“Nonsense.” My mom waved me off. “I love this chair. Now, tell me all about my grandbaby.”
Thinking about Piper brought a smile to my face. “She’s amazing, Mom. The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. She looks just like me, but with Lincoln’s stormy eyes.”
