Page 46 of Silver Lining Love

“I think it would probably be better if we took a step back.”

My stomach dropped. I felt like the rug had gotten yanked out from under me. Just because I’d had a feeling that she was going to say those things didn’t mean that I’d been prepared to hear it. I’d really thought that we’d connected and that we’d had an incredible intimate experience together.

“Can I ask why?” I did my best not to show the devastation I was experiencing.

Her brows lifted as she snapped, “Whywhat?”

“Why do you feel like we need to take a step back?” I nodded.

“Are youserious?”

I was convinced now that I was missing something and that I’d done something to upset her. “Yes.”

“How do you see this playing out?” Her eyes narrowed as she waved her hand between us. “You and me?”

I opened my mouth but before I could answer she continued.

“We hook up for a while and then you get bored and move on with Trina or someone equally as hot who drools over you.”

“Trina?”

That name was not one I’d expected to come up in this conversation. Was this actually about Trina? I didn’t want anything to do with Trina. And besides, Whitney had been acting strangely all day, long before she took Alice to the bathroom and came back to find Trina talking to me.

“Oh, no, sorry.” She lifted her hands in mock surrender. “Not Trina. She has kids.”

“I’m going to be honest with you. This conversation is not making any sense to me. I feel like I’m missing something and that I’ve done something to upset you.”

“Yeah, you did.” She nodded as she lifted her hand and started counting reasons off on her fingers, starting with her thumb, and I noticed tears in her eyes. “You set the bar way too high for any other man to meet. You are making yourself indispensable to me. The kids are getting way too attached to you. You cook way better than I do. And you look—" She waved her hand up and down toward me. “—like that. You’re just too fucking perfect.”

Those all sounded like compliments, but that wasn’t the context in which they were being used. I did my best not to smile because I could see that she wasn’t joking around. She was serious. I wasn’t exactly sure where this was coming from, but I figured I better try and unpack it.

“Whitney—” I started to speak, but she interrupted me.

“I’m not done. Last night was great, but what happens when you get bored or interested in someone else and move on with your life? Then what? I’m left alone to pick up the pieces?”

I wasn’t sure if her questions were rhetorical or not, and I wanted to let her say what she needed to say, so I asked, “Can I talk now?”

She nodded. Her lips pursed and her eyes widened, as if that was what she’d been waiting for.

“You asked me how I see this playing out, I don’t want to take a step back. And I’m not interested in Trina or anyone else. I’m not going anywhere. I’m in this with you. You won’t be left to pick up the pieces, I promise. In fact, I was going to ask you if you wanted to come home with me to my mom’s surprise party.”

I’d told her a couple of weeks ago that I was flying back home for a few days and asked if she could watch Moose.

“What about Moose?”

“I have access to private chartered flights. We’ll take him with us.” I never used any of the perks of my job, mainly because I never had a reason to use any of them. Until now.

“But…it’s your mom’s birthday. I don’t want to intrude.”

“My mom was actually the one who suggested it.”

A crease appeared on her forehead. “I thought it was a surprise party?”

“It is.”

“But you just said?—”

“That my mom invited you to her surprise party.” I nodded. “Yeah, she did.”

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