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I rub his arm. “Honestly, I’m fine. I appreciate you asking, but I’m more than okay.” Have I always been such a mess with breakups that both Jade and Declan feel the need to hover? I suppose I know the answer to that.
“He didn’t mistreat you, did he? I’m happy to take a ride up to New York and have a little chat with him. Man to man.”
Declan beat the crap out of at least two of my ex-boyfriends that I know of. They stole from us, and he went to retrieve our items in a violent way.
“Your days of beating up the men who mistreat me are behind us. The divorce was all me, not Rick. You know he’s a good guy.” I smile. “Besides, aren’t you getting a little old to get into fistfights?”
He puffs out his chest and crosses his arms as Melissa joins us. She smiles at me. “Did you see some of the outfits Jade and I picked out for her trip to Mexico?”
“Yes. She sent me pictures. They look amazing. You have such a great eye for fashion. I’m so happy she has you for that. I’m clueless.”
“You have an eye for art. I have an eye for fashion. We all have our strengths. I always wanted to study art, but life happened. You know how it is.”
Like me, Melissa became pregnant very young. I think she was only nineteen when she and Jackson found out they were having Payton. She dropped out of school and supported them while Jackson got his degree. Once his business was up and running, she went back for hers. They have an extremely amicable relationship. Melissa and Darian are very close, and Melissa has never been anything but incredibly kind and inclusive of me.
After dinner,I pack a few bags at my house and head over to Beckett’s. He had given me a key and told me to come whenever I was done.
I slowly walk in, feeling awkward about it. It seems quiet, though I see a light on in one of the rooms. I walk into what looks like a family room, but it’s completely different from the rest of the house. At least the parts I’ve been in. Everywhere I’ve seen is modern and minimalistic. This room is like a log cabin, with wood floors, darker tones, big leather sofas and chairs, and lots of blankets. It’s cozy. I love it.
I see Glinda cuddled up with a book in a big chair by the fireplace. It’s large and made of stone with a rough wooden mantel. She looks up when she sees me and smiles. “Amanda. I’m so happy you’re back.”
“I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“It’s fine. I’m just catching up on some reading. I don’t get much done while I visit, chasing after Andie all day.”
“I’m a reader too. What do you read?”
“Will you judge me if I say romance?”
I smile. “That’s what I read too. I’m a sucker for a good happily ever after.”
She stares at me for a moment. “You’re a dreamer, aren’t you?”
I nod. “To a fault.”
“Any particular reason?”
“I didn’t have an ideal childhood. When I was very young, dreaming of a better life was my form of escapism. Books too. I immersed myself in them. I could have let it drag me down, but I suppose I always chose to believe in a better life instead. It kept me sane when things gotreallybad.”
“I’m sorry you endured so much pain. I had a similar upbringing. It’s why I’m so intrusive in Beckett’s life. I know I annoy him, but he’s my only child. My pride and joy. His happiness, and Andie’s happiness, mean everything to me.”
“I understand. I feel the same about my daughter.”
“You two are close?”
“Very. We basically grew up together. I’m just afraid some of my baggage has become hers.”
“I doubt that. What children need is to feel loved. I didn’t. I’ve known you for one day and I know, without a doubt, that your daughter always felt loved by you. You exude warmth. Look at how quickly Andie went from dubious to in awe of you. You have a way about you. That special innate quality. Something every child wants in a parent.”
“Thank you for saying that.” I shuffle a bit nervously. “Is Beckett upstairs?”
“He and Nico are in the gym. They’ve been in there forquite a while. They should be done soon if you want to head down there.”
I look around, clearly having no clue where it is. This house is like a maze.
She looks at me skeptically. I’m sure she finds it odd that I don’t know where it is. If I were really Beckett’s girlfriend, I would probably know.
“Down the blue hallway. When it forks, stay to the right.”
