Page 87 of Your Soul to Keep

Years?

They had history.

So did we.

But they had a child.

What did I have to offer?

“Shae!” His voice sharpened.

“I’m here,” I answered, my voice flat.

“Fuck,” he muttered. “I worried this would happen but didn’t for one minute think she’d turn up unannounced. Can you come here?”

“When? Tonight?”

The noise from the kitchen filtered down the hallway.

“Tonight, now, anytime.”

Even if Marlena came in, down one server and with no hostess, I still wouldn’t be able to cut out. Leave Ayana’s short-staffed because I’m worried my boyfriend might still have a hard-on for his baby-mama?

The truth was, I didn’t need to work.

At all.

Between my mother’s life insurance my father wisely invested, my father’s life insurance my Nan wisely invested, and my Nan’s, I had no worries in the finances department.

But that didn’t mean I could walk out.

Or would.

“We’re short-staffed.” My voice sounded stiff; wooden.

He huffed in frustration. “I can’t come to you. I don’t stray too far from home when she’s here because Dylan doesn’t know her all that well and my mom can’t stand her. If I leave and Dylan needs to be picked up, I’d rather not involve either of my parents.”

“It’s okay. I understand.”

“Do you though?”

“I’m trying.”

“You’re it for me. It’s you or nobody. I don’t care to even look at another woman, Shae. You’re my it and only.”

Someone knocked at the office door. “Shae? You okay?”

“I’ll be there in a minute,” I called back.

My mind spun with possible scenarios.

Did he want another child?

One she could give him?

His voice broke through my thoughts. “Pack a bag for Sunday.”

“What?”

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