Page 66 of Utah

“Maybe. Kyla said they’re looking for another receptionist. That might be a good fit for me.”

“That would be great.” A smile tickled the edges of her lips. “I really like Kyla.”

“You’d like anyone who stole Knox’s focus off us.”

She playfully tapped my arm. “Leave your brother alone. He’s been through a lot since your father died.”

“You mean he’sbeena lot since Dad died.”

Talking about my dad wasn’t easy, but over the past eight years, the pain had lessened a fraction.

“I’m happy he’s finally found someone to settle down with. Maybe he’ll give me another grandchild soon.”

I rubbed my belly. “How about we focus on this little one first?”

“If I must.” She teasingly rolled her eyes and chuckled. “Are you hungry? I can make you some breakfast.”

“No, I’m good. Thanks. In fact, I’m gonna get going. I’m a little tired.” I stood, and the chair legs squeaked as I pushed my seat back. “Now that I’m unemployed, I can sleep as long as I want.”

“That is a perk.”

As our gazes collided, I was suddenly overwhelmed with a surge of love. No matter what was going on in my life, my mom was always there for me. No judgment. Even when I told her I was pregnant, the first words out of her mouth, after asking if my brother knew, were that she was proud of me. Not something I expected her to say since I was only twenty-four and this baby was unplanned. But her unconditional love erased most of my fears because with her in my corner, I could do anything.

37

“How’d things go with Ria?” Renner glanced at the box in my hand and pointed toward a nearby shelf. “Thanks for picking that up.”

“Sure.”

One moment passed, then another as we stood there in silence.

“You gonna tell me how it went?”

I shrugged, replaying our encounter for the fifth time since I left her house almost two hours ago. “It could’ve gone better.”

“How so?”

“What? Are you the club shrink now?”

“Just here to listen if you need to talk.”

“What did Emmy do to you?” My smile fell before it fully formed. “I think I liked you better when you were…” I hesitated a moment because I couldn’t find the right word.

“When I was like you? Closed off? Miserable?”

“I’m not miserable.”

“We can agree to disagree. And you’re right. Emmy changed me. For the better. I’m still not a touchy-feely kind of guy, but what I’ve learned is that we can’t keep everything bottled up orshit like yesterday happens.” He closed the hood of the vehicle he was working on. “What exactly did happen?”

I didn’t know what was worse, talking about feelings or recapping my freak-out the day prior.

Feelings.

Talking about feelings was worse.

“I reacted poorly,” I finally answered. The downturn of his mouth and the crease between his eyes informed me my shitty answer wasn’t gonna cut it. “I found out the guy Ria worked with kissed her, and I beat the hell out of him.”

His nod was slow, intentional. “Did he attack her?”

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