Page 136 of Strictly the Worst

Like he needs the connection. Like he needs me.

“I’d like us to go to therapy,” she tells him. “Talk about a way to stop it from being a secret anymore.”

“Maybe.” Linc nods. “I’ll think about it.”

“I didn’t know you still have nightmares,” she says. “I’d like to find a way to help them stop. If you’ll let me.”

He looks at me and I give him the softest of smiles. “It sounds like a good idea,” I whisper.

“Okay.” He looks at his mom. “We’ll discuss it more when I’m back in the US full time.” He glances at me again. “I don’t want my nightmares waking Zoe up when we move in together.”

I squeeze his thigh again. I’m so in love with this man it’s almost painful. He’ll put himself through the pain of reliving his past for me. For my daughter.

I’m so blessed thanks to him.

“Now let’s eat some brunch,” he says, calling the server over. “I have a flight to catch in eight hours, and I’d like to spend some of that with my girlfriend.”

CHAPTER

THIRTY-TWO

LINC

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Tessa asks me.

It’s been two months since the disastrous Saturday night with my family. We’ve been juggling video calls and flights to spend time with each other while I keep the promise I made to Roman to finish the European office.

Tessa, on the other hand, has spent that time finishing the renovations in her home. She only has the kitchen left to finish, and she’s graciously allowing me to help her with it. Because the woman still won’t agree to move into my apartment yet.

Which I understand. Her independence is part of what I love about her. But I don’t love trying to cook on a stovetop that should have been condemned during the last century, or sleep on the fucking floor because she can’t decide what bed frame to buy.

On the plus side, she went to see her gynecologist the week after the family party. He ran a lot of tests and found no problems.

She also met with her ex-husband last week. To tell him that she planned to properly introduce me to Zoe as her boyfriend. She tells me it went as well as expected, which is Tessa’s code word for fine.

“I don’t know if I’m ready,” I tell her in answer to her question. “Are you?” I’ve got a French comic book in my hand. According to the guy selling them in a shop down the road from the office in Paris, this one is a collector’s item. And I’m not above buying my girlfriend’s kid’s affection.

“Well it’s too late to back out now.” Tessa nods at the windshield. We’re sitting in my car outside the school. I arrived from Paris last night. And I spent it alone in my apartment because it’s Tessa’s week with Zoe. And this morning I met with Roman and told him the Paris office should be completely up and running within two weeks and I’ll be staying in the US after that.

I also gave him the resumes for five European PR professionals who are looking for their next career move and have the right kind of experience to hit the ground running with the Paris office.

We’ve agreed that I’ll go back to my old role for now, which will require a lot less travel now that we have a second office. But in reality I’m still trying to decide what I want to do in the future.

Zoe hugs her friends and smiles when she sees Tessa leaning out of the window, waving at her.

“Hey,” Zoe says, pulling the back door open and throwing her backpack on the seat. “I didn’t know you were coming to pick me up, Linc.”

“I bought you a gift,” I tell her, handing her the comic book.

Her eyes light up. “No way.”

I shrug. “Way.”

Her eyes meet mine and she laughs. “So are we doing this?” she asks.

“Doing what?” Tessa looks over her shoulder at her daughter as Zoe sits down and closes the door. She buckles herself in, then picks up the comic book again, thumbing through it.

“Doing the whole you and Linc are a couple thing,” Zoe says, sounding almost bored. “Just promise me I’ll get the biggest room in his apartment and I’m fine with it.”

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