Page 126 of My Silver Lining

“Well, my mama said that you’ve lived in Rosewood River your whole life. If you can’t ask your girl to move by you, how come you don’t just move by her?” His little hand was holding my good hand as if he were trying to comfort me, and I just looked down at him with my jaw hanging open.

Great fucking question.

“Well, for starters, my house is in Rosewood River.”

His head tipped back with a laugh. “Uncle Easton’s house is in Rosewood River, too. That’s where Lulu punched you in the throat that first day, remember?”

I chuckled. “Yep. I remember.”

“Well, Uncle Easton moved out of his house so he could live with Henley. I remember he told me it doesn’t matter what house they live in as long as they’re together. I’m sure there are houses in Paris, Uncle Rafe.”

Fair point.

“Right. But then there’s my job to think about.”

“Oh, man. They don’t do the numbers in Paris?” he asked, his gaze searching mine with genuine concern.

“They do the numbers in Paris,” I said, lifting one shoulder as if I were conceding.

“Or maybe you don’t want to move cause you’re afraid to leave your home. I remember Pops was worried when Mama was going to move away before he asked her to marry him.” He looked up at the ceiling with a big grin on his face. “Man, I had to give Pops a talking-to about that.”

“What did you say?”

“I said we could move wherever Mama went because we were a family, and we should be together. Doesn’t matter where, right?”

“How’d you get to be so smart?” I asked.

“Well, my mama is a doctor, and she’s real smart.” He shrugged, and I laughed, just as Emerson wheeled the machine into the room.

“What’s going on in here?” she asked.

“Just getting some life lessons from Beefcake.”

“He gives it to you straight,” she said proudly and set up the machine.

“He sure does.” I winked at him.

And then I thought about everything he said. Everything Bridger said.

Everyone was right. I was miserable without her.

It was time to make some moves, and I was ready to make them.

thirty-four

. . .

Lulu

I’d just hungup the phone with Leonard, the CEO of Luxe, the largest department store in France. He informed me that the launch was beyond successful, and they wanted to double their original order.

I sent a message to Jared and the team, letting them know the good news.

They sent all sorts of emojis and celebratory memes, but it still felt a little empty.

I’d been burning the candle at both ends, and I was tired.

I stared down at the photo on my phone. The one that Henley took of Rafe and me. The one that also sat in a frame on my nightstand. My chest ached. I’ve never missed anyone in my life the way that I missed him. I physically ached for this man.

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