Page 82 of Forbidden Hearts
“Phoebe has news?”I say aloud and sign so everyone knows what we were saying.
Phoebe turns to Olivia with pursed lips, but there isn’t a single trace of anger.“You weren’t supposed to say anything.”
“Sorry.”Olivia grins.
Phoebe rests her hand on Liv’s head. “So, I have big news.”
“What is the news?”I ask.
“I got into Texas!”
“Texas?”Both Chief and I say at the same time.
“Yes, I’m still waiting on Vanderbilt, but at least I got into Texas! I’ll only lose about two credits, which isn’t ideal but not terrible either. The program starts in August, and I’ll need to get an apartment. Shit. I should do that sooner, I’m sure they’re already full. All of this is . . .”
I do my best to sign all of what she said, but I lose track and basically summarize.“Phoebe got into schools. She’s happy. Has a lot to do.”
Olivia taps my hand. “I know. We celebrated.”
“You did?”I ask her.
“Ice cream.”
Of course my daughter convinced Phoebe to get her ice cream. Sara is going to kill me if she finds out how many sweets Olivia’s been eating. Whatever.
This . . . thing we’re doing has an official expiration date, which is a good thing. Knowing that she isn’t going to somehow convince herself that we should keep going is exactly what she needs. There is a buzzer at the end of this ticking clock, and when it goes off, she’s gone and we go our separate ways.
When she comes home from school, she’ll probably want to visit Liv, and we can fuck again then. All of this is kind of the perfect arrangement, honestly.
“When would you leave?” I ask Phoebe.
She pulls her lower lip into her mouth. “Not sure, but don’t worry, I’ll help make sure you have childcare set by then, and I’ll stay on even if you get a new nanny before I leave so that she’s all set with Liv.”
That’s what I should’ve been worried about, but it was more about how much time she and I have.
“Well, congratulations.”
She smiles. “Thank you. I . . . hope to celebrate more—soon.”
Chief laughs loudly. “Congrats, Phoebs! I am glad you found a better school. You’re off tonight, right? We should do dinner and maybe we can watch some of our old shows?”
Phoebe looks to me, and I shake my head just slightly. We’re going to celebrate tonight, but it won’t be dinner and a show—well, notthatkind of show.
She runs her teeth across her lip and then looks back to her dad. “I think dinner sounds great, but I have plans tonight and will probably crash at my friend’s house.”
“Dinner it is then.” He kisses her cheek and then winks at Olivia.
“Can I play a game?”Olivia asks after he leaves.
I point to my phone on my desk, and she grabs it before opening some app.
Phoebe moves close to me. “You’re sleeping at a friend’s?”
Her warm brown eyes find mine. “I thought you wanted me to stay the night.”
“I do.”
She looks around the room, moving closer when she sees it’s safe. “Are you my friend, Asher?”
