Page 20 of His Greatest Treasure

Unlike her dickish cousin.

“So am I.”

Stepping back, I take another look at her and how grown-up she’s become before sliding my eyes to Cooper. He’s two years older than me and has matured more than I expected. His body has filled out, age strengthening his features. It’s hard to imagine him as the kid I remember. We were neverthatclose growing up, if you don’t count weekly how-are-you texts, but he’s a nice guy. A really, really nice guy and a good friend.

“You look old,” I tell him, keeping my tone light.

He smiles, brown eyes crinkling at the corners. “Addie tells me that all the time. It’s nice to see you again, Avery.”

“You too.” I mean it more than I thought I would. Resting my hand on Nova’s shoulder, I say, “This is my daughter, Nova. Nova, this is Adalyn and Cooper.”

Addie beams, her model features every inch as beautiful as they look online and on magazine covers. “Hi, pretty girl.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Nova,” Cooper says.

Nova blushes, her cheeks and neck flushing a deep red. “Hi.”

“You’re here for ballet, right? I promise that Aunt Gray only hires the best of the best. You’ll be in fantastic hands here,” Adalyn tells her.

Gracie nods. “You have my word. We’ll get you all set up today, and then next week, you can come and start dancing.”

“Okay. So, I get my tutu today?” Nova asks.

“Yep. Your tutu, bodysuit, and pointe shoes. I have plenty of helpers here today, but I’d like to be the one to get you set up if that’s okay?”

Her words have me searching the space for Oliver. It’s been a week since he stormed into my house and saved me from lighting my house on fire with my curling iron, but luckily, he’s been gone during the days, so I haven’t seen him since. I’m sure he’s just as happy about that as I am.

When I don’t find him lurking around the studio like a pest, I relax. Even as the text he sent me two days ago flutters into my consciousness.

Oliver: Your lawn needs to be mowed.

Asshole. He didn’t offer to mow it either. As if I would have accepted his help.

“Sure. You can help me,” Nova says.

She offers Gracie her hand and looks up at me, waiting for permission to go with her. I give it easily, trusting Gracie without a doubt.

The two of them leave, and then Addie is shifting. She stares at me with a sense of hope so thick it could suffocate me if I let it.

“Can we find a seat and talk? Catch up? I know it’s been a long time, but I’d love to get to know who you are now, if you’re up for it.”

She doesn’t know it, but the begging isn’t necessary. I’d have tried to sit down with her even if she hadn’t cared about me being here.

8

AVERY

“So, you’re married now,”I say in a terrible attempt to break the ice.

Addie sits on the chair to my left while Cooper takes the one beside her. It’s not exactly quiet in here with all the excited voices and chit-chat, but it’s better than silence.

“We got married twice, really. The first wasn’t on purpose nor legitimate,” she explains with a wink at her husband.

Rubbing the thick black band of the tattooed ring on his finger, he keeps his eyes on Addie, the warmth in them enough to make me jealous. Not of her but of the love they so obviously share.

It’s palpable, and I’ve never felt love that strong before in any of my past relationships. I thought I was close with Chris, but I know now that I was wrong.

I fold my hands in my lap and look away from them. “Did you go to Vegas and get Punk’d by an Elvis impersonator?”

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