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Her chuckles die down as I reach the top of the stairs and enter my room, pulling the cream dress I haven’t yet worn from its hanger. I unzip the black dress at the side and pull it off, careful not to muss up my hair. I eye the cream dress, pulling it on along with a teal droplet necklace and matching cuff bracelet.
I walk over to the mirror and stand in front of it—again—and smile. It’s an off the shoulder lace dress that stops above my knees, and it matches perfectly with the teal accessories and the teal pointed heels I slip my feet into.
The insufferable smirk that’s still on her face as I re-enter the kitchen makes me smile. Mom was right—as usual. I feel more like me wearing a spot of color.
“Don’t say—”
“I told you so.” The smirk drops from her face and she motions to the dining table. We both sit down and she hands me a glass of wine. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.” If it was anyone else but my mom telling me that, I would’ve blushed, but she has to say it; she’s my mom.
“Can you promise me one thing?” I don’t answer her, not wanting to promise something ahead of hearing what she has to say. “Don’t get attached.”
“It’s not a date.”
“So you’ve said a hundred times, but you’re still going out with someone you have an intense history with.” She pauses, her eyes flitting between mine. “And not to mention that this someone is extremely handsome.” She waggles her brows up and down and I roll my eyes, trying not to chuckle. “You’re newly divorced and he has kids, there has to be a mom somewhere. You have to tread lightly.”
I haven’t told Mom what I know: how Natalia is their mom and that she’s no longer here to see them grow up. My eyelids flutter shut as her face flashes into my head.
“I don’t mean to upset you, hon. But what I say is the truth.”
“It’s not that.” I open my eyes, taking a deep breath, ready to tell her. “He was married to Izzie and Clayton’s mom, but… she passed away.”
Her hand flies to her chest. “Oh, poor dears.”
I nod as tears prick my eyes. “It was Natalia.”
Mom knew Natalia, she was the only friend I ever brought back to my house; I didn’t even bring Tristan here. Natalia was a private person; I knew she came from money like Tristan and Nate, but she never flaunted it or went into detail about anything. She was ordinary—like me. That’s why we got on like a house on fire, and I guess it’s why it still hurts to think that she married him after knowing how much I loved him.
“Nat?”
“Yeah.” I nod solemnly as a stray tear rolls down her face, but I will myself not to cry and ruin my makeup. “This isn’t teenage stuff anymore, this is real life. We’ve both suffered so much and it feels nice to have a friendship where there’s no expectations.”
“I know what you’re saying, but… still tread carefully. The last thing I want is for you to end up back there again.” I cringe at what she’s implying. “It’s not just the both of you involved in this friendship. Things have changed and he has two little people he needs to think about.”
“I would never jeopardize the kids’ emotional state.”
She reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. “I know that, sweetheart. All I’m saying is if anything comes from this, you need to be all in, or nothing at all. You can’t swarm into their lives all of a sudden and be there, then suddenly not be there when things go to shot.”
“I have no intention of any of that happening. I’m not trying to replace Natalia, I—”
“Nobody said you were, but there’s a reason that he’s showing interest in you again.” She pauses before adding, “Take it slow.”
As if on cue, there’s a knock at the door, but the
conversation has thrown me off kilter and I’m not ready to see him yet. I panic, motioning for my mom to go and answer the door.
She rolls her eyes but stands up and walks out of the room, answering the door anyway.
“Hi, Tilly. I’m here for Harmony.” I hear them both chuckle. “I feel like a teenager.”
“I’d invite you in but you’re already pushing it for time.” There’s a beat of silence before she calls, “Harmony?”
I take a deep breath and paste a smile on my face, reminding myself that this isn’t a date before walking out of the kitchen.
My chest thumps and I have to mentally force myself to not stand here with my mouth hanging open at the sight of him in navy blue dress pants and a matching suit jacket. The bright white shirt he’s wearing has the collar open and I can see the soft skin of his neck. I swallow, raking my gaze down his body, taking him all in.
My eyes flick up to his sandy-blond hair that is perfectly styled and then down to his face, his gray eyes sparkling before noticing that his gaze is also running over my body appreciatively; much the same as I did with him.
