Mr. Kincaid: And what do you think?

Me: You didn’t deny it!

Mr. Kincaid: Correct, I did not.

Me: omg.

OH MY GOD.

Mr. Kincaid: Let’s talk about this tomorrow when you’re sober.

Me: Okay. Call me at 8:30 please to make sure I’m awake.

Mr. Kincaid: You got it, sunshine.

Later that afternoon, after having brunch with Jacqueline, where we went over every possible scenario that could happen between me and Rowan that day, I head home. The house is quiet when I get there and I wonder where everyone is. I didn’t see Margot’s car in the driveway, so I assume she may be out. I put my bag in my room and surprisingly I don’t see Rowan in his office. I head down the hall and up the stairs to the second floor and I hear talking coming out of Isla’s room. When I walk in, I see her sitting on the floor playing with her dolls.

“Ellie!” she cheers, hopping up and running to me. I drop to one knee and she lunges into my arms, squeezing me tight.

“Hi!”

“Will you play with me?” she asks, handing me one of her dolls.

“Okay, but where is everyone?”

“Margot left. SJ is playing video games in the basement and Daddy is taking a nap.”

“Areyousupposed to be taking a nap?” I ask her.

She gives me her most innocent look and giggles. “I’m not tired!”

“Well, I could use a nap,” I tell her, feeling the fatigue of my hangover catching up with me. “Do you want to come watch a movie in my room?”

She nods enthusiastically before scooping up her dolls and grabbing a tiny blanket from her bed. She follows me down the stairs and before I realize what she’s doing I see her knocking on her dad’s door. “Daddy, Ellie’s home! I’m going to watch a movie in her room, okay? Okay.” She scurries down the hall toward me and just as she enters my room, I see Rowan open the door and his eyes lock with mine.

“Hey.” I wave and a sexy smile that makes my knees weak finds his face before he returns my wave.

“Hey, sunshine.”

“Ellie, what movie!” Isla calls and I look at her sitting on my bed.

“One sec, Isla,” I tell her as I move down the hall and out of her line of sight toward her father. “Can we talk later about last night?”

He nods. “I think we need to.”

“I’m so sorry…” I whisper.

“For what you said or not remembering you said it?” He raises an eyebrow at me but a smile pulls at his lips.

“Both?” I offer weakly. “I don’t want to make things uncomfortable or awkward.”

“You didn’t do either of those things. I think I did that.”

I shake my head. “No! I asked.”

He leans against the wall in the hallway. “I didn’t have to answer.”

“Was it the truth?”