Page 50 of Wicked Games We Play

His body filled my space while he reached over me, grabbing my seatbelt and pulling it over my body. He clicked it into place while pressing a kiss to my temple before shutting my door. His hand lingered on the door.

Open it. Stay with me.

Walking back to his car, Noah stopped to look at me one last time before finally climbing back in and shutting his door. Our eyes met through his rearview mirror before the brake lights disappeared and he drove away.

The moment his car was out of sight, a sob ripped through my body and I covered my mouth to hold it in. My limbs felt heavy, and all I wanted to do was cry until there was nothing left for my body to give, but I knew I couldn’t.

Not here, not in front of the police station.

I needed to get a grip on my emotions and go home. I had to save this breakdown for later and then tomorrow could be about fresh starts and getting my life together while Noah was gone.

A knock at my passenger window nearly had me jumping out of my skin and it surprised me to see an officer leaning down, looking in at me through the class. Rolling down my window, I wiped at my tears and put on a fake smile.

“Lily?” the officer asked, his voice soft. I nodded my head in conformation, and a look of understanding passed through his gray-blue eyes. “I’m Aaron. This is Will.” He gestured to the officer standing a little behind him. I hadn’t noticed him there.

Will walked around Aaron, standing in front of the window and leaning down to look in at me, too. “Hey,” he added.

Aaron swiped his hand down the front of his face. “Look, we saw you out here and wanted to let you know if you need anything while Whitlock is gone—we’ve got you. You’re family to Noah, which means you’re family to us, so let us know if you or your boy need anything.”

He pulled a card from the pocket on the chest of his uniform, handing it to me through the open window. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

They both offered me a curt smile before turning to walk back into the station. My heart thumped in my chest as I rolled up the window and put my car into drive.

The sentiment was kind. I was grateful that Noah worked amongst people who were kind and respectable, but at the same time, I hated them for not being the ones to go undercover instead.

When I arrived home to my empty house, I collapsed on my couch and tossed a blanket over my head, seeking the comfort of the plush and warmth. If walls could talk, they’d be chastising me for taking him for granted.

Stupid, stupid girl.

I felt like I was about to lose my mind to my current state of self-loathing.

Memories flowed through my mind as I thought about the fleeting moments where I should have woken up and realized the error of my ways, but instead continued to prolong the inevitable.I should have appreciated the small things and not been so reluctant to let him in. He had given me time and space like I had asked, but never wandered too far in case I had changed my mind about needing time.

Time.

Now I had nothing but time.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO

ONE MONTH WITHOUT HIM

“Lily, dear, come out here so we can talk for a moment,” Mrs. Landry called from the front of the flower shop. I was in the walk-in refrigerator, picking out a few stems for a mock-up bouquet I was putting together for my ex-husband’s wedding.

Was it weird that they were using the shop I worked at as their florist? Maybe, but it was also a little strange to attend your ex-husband’s wedding, and I fully intended on being there. Ryder asked our son to be the best man, and I wouldn’t miss seeing my favorite guy in a tux.

“Coming!” I yelled, letting her know I would be up in a moment. I finished selecting the flowers I wanted to put together and found Mrs. Landry behind the cash wrap, sitting on a stool in front of the register. She had a notebook and large calculator in front of her, working diligently on whatever she was keeping herself busy with.

Laying the flowers down on the counter, I pulled a strand of mauve satin ribbon from the spool and cut it, before laying it beneath the stems.

“Well, my girl, it’s time you had a serious conversation with a very old lady.” Mrs. Landry swiveled on her stool, facing me while watching me maneuver the flowers.

I sat the final stem down and shifted my focus to her. “Is everything okay?”

“Oh fine, fine, my dear. I’m just old and tired, and ready to spend my days drinking sweet tea on my porch rather than withering away amongst the flowers.” She looked at me pointedly. “I want to sell the shop and I want to sell it to you, Lily.”

A small gasp escaped, and my hand flew to my mouth. “You want me to buy your flower shop? Mrs. Landry—”

She lifted her hand to stop me. “Yes, Lily, I want you to buy my shop, but I want you to transform it into the store you’ve been dreaming of. Open your boutique, Lily.”

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