Page 53 of Promises We Meant to Keep

“Oh, Greer.” Kamryn’s heart broke. She hated this for her. It was part of the job, she understood that, but it still sucked. Greer deserved so much better than that.

“They said that the long goodbye was making it worse on the boys, and so they didn’t want to let it linger.”

“Jesus.” Kamryn ran her fingers through her hair, shaking her head. “What a douche move.”

“Yeah, it is a bit.” Greer gave a light chuckle for that one. “But that means I don’t have a lot of time to find a new family.”

“No, you don’t.” Kamryn’s heart broke a little more. “What will you do if you can’t find anyone?”

“I don’t know. I’ve always wanted to be a nanny, you know that. And if I can’t find another job, or if most families think I’m getting too old for this—I don’t know, Kam. Maybe I’ll have to go back to school for my Master’s or something.”

“In what?”

“Something so I can teach?” Greer sounded so lost. Kamryn wished she could be there with her. “But enough about me, what about you?”

“You mean what about Lauren.” Kamryn pushed. She still wanted that answer. “Why did she say she was going to call me?”

“She was… jealous. There.”

“Jealous?” Kamryn’s stomach flopped. “Of what?”

“Yournewgirlfriend. Have I mentioned I don’t like lying to her? Or anyone for that matter.”

“I…” Kamryn stopped. “She’s really that jealous?”

“She is. Because you’re happy, and she’s clearly not happy with Rosie despite the fact that she won’t admit it. I’m pretty sure she’s stepping out on that one, and I don’t blame her. I don’t like Rosie one bit.”

“No one does,” Kamryn said offhandedly. “And she thinks I’m happy?”

“That’s what she said. That at the bridal shower you and Elia were all lovey-dovey and holding hands, and you must really be happy. She said she couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen you so happy.”

“Huh.” Kamryn mulled that one over. She’d never felt happier—at least from what she could remember. It had been a very long time since she’d felt relaxed and content. And despite the fact that work was a bitch and she hated being stuck working there for so long, she was happy with her life right now. Satisfied, even. “I guess I am.”

“Really?” That seemed to surprise Greer, and Kamryn could imagine why. The only time they talked lately was when Kamryn needed someone to complain to and Greer was the best listening ear that she had. And she was damn good at it. And it was telling that she was the only one doing the talking because Greer hadn’t told her about the moving up of her lay-off date.

“I’ve been a shitty friend.” Guilt ate away at her stomach. “I should have done better.”

“Kam, you’ve been busy.”

“Yeah, but you needed me, and I wasn’t there, and then I used you to whine too when I should have been listening to you.”

“Kam…” Greer laughed lightly. “If I needed to complain to you, then I would have called you to complain. But I didn’t need it. I’m sad, yes, but I’m not angry or upset about it.”

“All right.” That satisfied Kamryn slightly. At least it made her feel a little better. Still, she was going to do better in the future. She had to—for their friendship. “Then to answer your question, I am happy. And to answer your non-asked question, you might not really be lying when you tell Lauren that I’m dating Elia.”

“What?!” Greer squeaked. “Are you serious?”

“I don’t know.” Kamryn grinned widely, a bubble of elation building in her chest. “But yes. We had… well, we’ve had several moments, and I don’t know, we had one really big moment.”

“You had sex.”

“…Yes…” Kamryn dropped her head into the couch cushion. “Yes, we did that, once, and it was amazing, and the next morning was even better in some ways.”

“How so?”

“Because it wasn’t just sex, and it wasn’t until the next morning that I think I really realized that. I thought... well, Elia’s not exactly the easiest person to read, and she’s very closed off and secretive about some things in her past, which is fine, she doesn’t have to spill her guts to me in one session of lovemaking—”

“Lovemaking?” Greer devolved into a fit of giggles. “You didn’t just call it that!”

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