Page 16 of Restorations

He just gives me a curt nod, and I go inside, watching them through the kitchen window as I start a pasta dinner. My heart aches as I watch them play so happily in the pool together. I try not to think about what it would have been like if he would have wanted to try to be in a relationship with me.

How happy Baz would have been. How happy we would have been. But maybe he was right. It all would have ended badly. I don’t know of any long-term happy marriages.

Maybe my future is just to be Sebastian’s single mommy. I smile, looking out the window as Baz climbs on Asher’s back in the water. I’m okay with that. I know he was my purpose in this life.

Maybe it’s wine and Tinder dates for me.

“Hey!” I jump when Lola walks into the kitchen.

I turn and see her with Hayden, dressed in his three-piece suit like always, and she looks stunning in a pencil skirt and camisole. They are a flawless couple. “Hi, I didn’t hear you guys come in.”

She smiles and walks to the counter, picking up a piece of the tomato I just cut and putting it into her mouth. “We’ve been here for a little bit. You guys were swimming.”

“Hungry?”

“Starving,” Hayden answers.

Lola looks at the boiling water on the stove and then back to me. “Can I help with anything?”

“No. Thank you. I think I have it,” I answer as I put the pasta in the water.

Her eyes casually look out the window at Baz and Asher. “Did Sawyer leave?”

I nod my head and hear Hayden’s phone before he exits to answer it. I answer Lola. “He did. He had to work.”

She smiles. “Linc loves to keep him busy.”

“He’s learning a lot from him. I don’t think he minds at all.”

Her eyes drift back to Asher. “Did they play nice?”

They didn’t talk, but they didn’t fight either. At least when I was around. I have no idea what they were talking about when Baz and I were changing into our swimsuits, but it seemed tense when we walked in.

I know they miss each other even if they’ll never admit it.

I see Asher and Baz climbing out of the pool, Asher’s hard body with water trickling down makes me flush as I look away and answer Lola quickly, “They did.”

“Good.” She places a hand on my shoulder. “I just want you to be comfortable here.”

I know she does. She’s the big sister I never had. Hell, she’s the comfort I've never had in my life. So is Nora. I’ve never felt so loved until I met the Sterlings.

After we change and I finish dinner, we all sit down to a nice quiet meal. A meal like the ones I craved as a child but never got. My mother was always too concerned with her diet to eat around anyone. My father was always too busy. Most of my meals were placed in front of me at an empty table.

I smile when I look at Baz tucked between Asher and Hayden, both joking around with him and making him giggle nonstop. I don’t even care if food is falling out of his mouth or he’s barely eating. He’s happy.

“We have a new client, by the way. Are you free to go with Penelope to meet them tomorrow?”

I turn to look at Lola, who is in business mode. “Absolutely.” I look straight ahead at Asher. “Are you free to watch Baz tomorrow? I can ask Nora . . .”

“I’m free,” he quickly agrees, and I know he wants to get as much time in with Baz as he can.

I nod and see Baz beaming at the idea. “Thank you.”

I’m still taking design classes, but I’m basically an intern with Penelope and Lola. I’ve really enjoyed it so far.

“Have you thought about what you want to do now that you’ve graduated?” Lola asks Asher and I feel tense, uncertain why. Maybe because asking Asher about the future never went well for me.

Hayden smirks playfully over at Asher. “You can always come work for me.”

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