Page 106 of Changing Tides

I groan as I pull the pillow from under my head and hold it over my eyes.

She sits on the bed beside me. “I know you’re sad or embarrassed or depressed or something.”

“All of the above,” I mumble.

“But you can’t just hide under the covers. You have a job and a tiny human depending on you. So, get your ass out of this bed and into a shower, or I’m going to fucking drag you in there by your hair.”

“I called in sick.”

“For the third day in a row. Your boss had chicken soup and Gatorade delivered this morning. And Leia is worried to death about you.”

I peek out from behind the pillow. “Where is she?”

“At Ida Mae’s house, playing with the cat. I thought it’d be best in case I had to wrestle you to get you out.”

“What did you tell her?”

“That you and Conrad had a disagreement and it made you sad.”

I nod and push myself up against the headboard, and my body screams in protest. Everything hurts.

“You need to talk to Sabel as well. She’s been by every day, asking after you and feeding me and Leia.”

“I have no idea what to say to her and Sebby. I feel like I betrayed their kindness.”

“Unfortunately, you made your bed, and now, it’s time to lie in it. It’s gonna suck, but it has to be done,” she says.

“I know.”

My body shakes as I begin to sob.

Amiya crawls up beside me and wraps me in her arms.

“I’ll give you the rest of today to finish crying it out, but no longer.”

I feel like a human again after eating and taking a long, hot shower.

Leia is thrilled when she finds me sitting at the kitchen island, eating toast. “Good morning, Mommy.”

Guilt washes over me as she carefully hugs me.

“I feel much better, baby,” I reassure her.

Amiya makes a pot of coffee, pours us each a mug, and slides one to me. She makes Leia a bowl of cereal.

I open my mouth to protest the sugary meal, but Amiya holds up her hand.

“We ran out of eggs, and that’s the only thing I know how to cook other than toast. One morning won’t hurt her.”

“It’s Bastian,” Leia says around a mouthful.

I jerk my head around to peer out of the window and into the living room.

I don’t see him.

“Where is Sebastian?” Amiya asks her.

She points to the cereal box on the island with her spoon.

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