Page 10 of Second Chance Serenity

“Thanks.” He turns and sees us in our booth.

“If it isn’t my big brother.” Margot grins at him as he crosses over to us. “Where is my son? You are supposed to be feeding him.”

Why? Why must this happen now, when I’m still so hungover from our last interaction?

He holds up the bag. “That’s what this is for.”

“Vegetables?”

“Yes, Mother,” he replies. “Matty is with Lance at the office right now. I’m headed back.”

“Fine. Make sure he eats something relatively healthy, please?” Margot asks.

“I wouldn’t be the fun uncle if I did.”

“You’re his only uncle.”

“Which is all the more reason to keep him liking me.”

I keep my head down, gaze trained on the glass of water in front of me. Michael is only inches away, so close that I can smell his cologne. It’s the same kind he’s always worn, and the memory of it is messing with my brain.

“All right, I’m headed out. See you ladies later.” He turns and leaves, but I don’t breathe easily again until the bell above the door dings, signaling his exit.

When I finally raise my gaze, every single one of my friends is staring at me. “What?”

“Care to explain?” Margot arches a brow.

“There’s nothing to explain.”

“There’s obviously something there,” Eliza says.

“That road is closed,” I tell them. “I shut it down the moment he left me.” And because I feel like a jerk for being so short, I take a deep breath. “Mrs. McGinley orchestrated a face-to-face with us earlier at the library.”

The women around me all laugh at the same time. “It would be her.” Lilly shakes her head as she retakes her seat.

“The woman is a lovable menace,” Andie adds with a smile.

“She just doesn’t get it. No one does. Michael and I were supposed to be together forever. It was us against the world, and he just left. It took me years to move past the pain, and I’m unwilling to go through that again.” I look at Lilly, knowing full well she went through the same thing and now she and Alex are happy, in love, and have a sweet baby.

She puts her hands up. “You know my stance on it. I am beyond grateful I gave Alex a second chance even though I was terrified to do so.”

“It’s not the same.” Except it is, but thank you, Lilly, for not pointing that out.

Margot taps her hands on the table. “Well. Since he is my brother and I love him, you should know that he’s put down some pretty deep roots here. He won’t run off again.”

“I appreciate that, but I can’t go there again. I won’t survive it.” I take another deep breath, trying to calm some of my nerves. My phone dings, so I pull it out of my purse, grateful for the distraction.

Liam: Hey, Reyna! I was hoping we might be able to get together again soon? I had so much fun at the signing today.

“Is that cute library guy?” Eliza asks.

I look up at her, only to find everyone staring at me yet again. “Don’t you all have anything else to talk about besides my lack of a love life?”

“Who is cute library guy?” Andie asks, leaning on the table.

“His name is Liam, and he came to the reading at the library today with Reyna. He seems sweet.”

“He is.”

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