Page 90 of Trouble Walked In

Della huffed. “I call full-load bullcrap on that. Renovations are not the reason you’ve been ignoring all the eligible bachelors throwing themselves at your feet. You love Renic.”

Lizzie opened her mouth to tell her that wasn’t at all true, and even if it was, it didn’t matter, but Della cut her off.

“Don’t bother denying it, Lizard Breath. I know you too well. I saw how you looked at him. I’ve heard how he talks aboutyou. He asks about you every time he calls me. He has a picture of you in his office. Did you know that?”

“I’m sure it’s a picture of all of us, not just me, and I’m not denying anything. I’m telling you how it is.” Lizzie wasn’t used to getting lectured by any of her sisters,especially not the baby of the family. “We had a moment. It’s over.”

Della scoffed. “That’s not why you shoved him out the door and you know it. You don’t trust him. You think he might treat you the same way your ex-jackass did.”

“I didn’t shove him out the door. He left.” She frowned at the lake. “He had to go back to work.”

“Sure you didn’t.” Della’s voice was thick with sarcasm. “After having mind-blowing sex with the woman he’s been in love with for years he ran out the door in the middle of the night all on his own with no prompting whatsoever.”

Lizzie glared at her. “I didn’tmakehim leave. He walked out on his own. Believe it or not, your choice.”

“After you said what, exactly?”

Hot prickles ran up the back of her neck. “I pointed out that his life is out there and mine is here, and that I wasn’t going to be a convenient layover.”

“Oh my God. Lizzie. You didnottell him that.”

“It’s the truth, Della. I don’t want that life anymore, and he can’t leave it. So it really doesn’t matter if he loves me. It wouldn’t work out anyway.” Tears welled up in her eyes again. She turned her face away and wrapped her arms around the box of lights in her lap. “I said what I had to say to make him understand.”

Della put a soft hand on her shoulder. “He told you he loves you? He said the words?”

Lizzie sniffed and nodded. “Just threw them at me, actually. He said, ‘I love you, isn’t that enough.’”

“Finally. And you said…,” Della prompted.

“I said no. That I had a life here, and I don’t need him. And I don’t.” A tear spilled out, followed by another. “I’m doing just fine.”

Della sighed. “Oh, Lizzie. You know, for being the oldest you sure suck at the whole relationship thing.”

“As if you’re any better.” She scrubbed the tears off her cheeks. “Your relationships never last past the next party.”

Della gave her a hard stare that was very unlike her. “Maybe not. But I know if I had the chance at love with a man like Renic I wouldn’t let it walk out the door without a fight.”

“Just drop it, Dell, okay?” Lizzie stood up and brushed off her jeans. She needed out of this conversation and away from anything to do with Renic. “I have to finish cleaning up. Are you leaving today or tomorrow?”

“Stop changing the subject and answer the question.” Della stood up and faced off against her. “Do you love him?”

Lizzie’s jaw clenched so tight it felt like a tooth would split. “It. Doesn’t. Matter.”

Della stomped her foot. “Itdoesmatter. I know dickface really screwed you over, and I know that’s why you left the music business behind. Well, that, and I suppose me going solo was a convenient excuse. But it’s been over three years, and you’ve set up a new life. So if you’re still using him as an excuse to push people away that’s just pathetic.”

“Screw you.” Lizzie’s cheeks heated up again, this time from anger instead of embarrassment. “What do you know about it. You’re out there without a care in the world, so excuse me if some of us have responsibilities.”

Della huffed out an impatient breath. “I think we’ve already established that Idocare. I screwed up, and I’m sorry, and I came here to tell you that and to try and fix my mistake. I’m owning up to it, which is more than I can say for you right now.”

“What’s your point?”

“If you turn your back on Renic again, you won’t get another chance with him. That’s my freaking point.”

They glared at each other while a lot of unspoken words swirled between them.

“I’m not the one who left, Del.”

“Yes, you did. You always do.” Della’s expression softened. “When it comes to your own life, you hide. You never let us know when you’re really hurting. You’ve always been strong for us. You are the mother I never had, and I love you. But we’re all grown up now. It’s time you put yourself first.”

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