Page 58 of In this Moment

“How did you know?” he asked. “About the engagement, I mean. How did you know it wasn’treal?”

She winked and kissed him quickly on the cheek before she whispered in his ear. “A mother just knows these things.”

She should have told Declan the truth before she went to the shop, but she just couldn’t. She was going to tell him before she left, but he was still sleeping and the thought of waking him up only to tell him that they didn’t have to pretend to be engaged anymore just didn’t feel right.

Of course, nothing felt right.

In fact, she couldn’t think of any scenario where it would feel right to tell Declan good-bye.

Because that’s what she was going to have to do. She’d have to tell him good-bye and she’d never again feel his arms around her, or his lips on hers, or his body moving insidehers.

A sob escaped her throat at the thought ofit.

She’d tried hard all morning to rationalize her decision but she didn’t have to rationalize it, because it was the only thing to do. She couldn’t keep lying to Declan just to keep him around. No matter how much she wantedto.

But what she wanted wasn’t just to have Declan around; it was to have Declan around because he wanted to be there. Because he wanted to have a relationship with her. Because he lovedher.

But that wasn’t thecase.

And as much as that hurt, she was a big girl and she would beokay.

She picked up her phone and dialed his number. She’d tell him rightnow.

But before she could hit Send and make the call, she hung up and dropped her phone as if it were on fire. She couldn’t do it over the phone. It didn’t feel right.

Nothing felt right.

Evie walked away from the counter and her phone. She’d call him and make a plan to get together after work. She’d tell him in person. She’d make the call…right after she sorted the new dresses that had just comein.

But then a customer came in, and then another one, and by the time Evie had a moment to think about it, an hour had passed. She stared at her phone, still sitting where she’d left it on the counter.

Okay, Evie. You can dothis.

She picked up the phone again, dialed the number and then—the bells over the door jingled as another customer came in. “I’ll be right with you,” she called before putting the phone down and going to greet her customer.

Except it wasn’t a customer.

It wasTony.

“Hey,” he said simply. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

“Well…” She held up her hands lamely. It’s not as if she could tell him that she was just about to call and end her fake engagement with the man she actually loved. “No,” she said after a moment. “It’sfine.”

He smiled and slowly walked closer, as if he were scared of her. And maybe he was. “I just couldn’t wait,” he said after a moment. “Did you give my offer any more thought?”

“Your offer?”

“Working it out, Evie. Trying.” When she didn’t respond right away, he added, “Me and you. Jonah. Making it work as a family.”

A family.

With Declan occupying her mind, she’d almost forgotten about Tony’s offer.

Almost.

“It’s worth a try, don’t you think?” Tony came closer still, but she didn’t shrink away. She was tired. Tired of pretending. Tired of fighting. Tired of all of it. Her heart was breaking for what she was going to lose with Declan, but it was nothing compared to what she could lose if she didn’t at least consider Tony’s offer. It was crazy and on some level, they both had to have known it. But also, it sort of made sense. If she didn’t have to share custody of Jonah, she would never have to feel that emptiness when he was gone ever again.

“Well?” he asked. “Have you thought aboutit?”

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