Page 99 of My Silver Lining

I was leaving at the end of March, and my time here was winding down.

“You’ll pick it up fairly easy,” he chuckled. “So what happens with Rafe? Mom and I really liked him. And obviously, Francois thinks he’s the real deal.”

I cleared my throat. I was tired of lying. Of pretending I was someone that I wasn’t just to please my father. My family. To not feel like the black sheep. The screwup.

I was kicking ass professionally. It was time to hold my head up high and own it.

“He’s great. I’m lucky to have had this time with him. He’s made me realize that I can trust again, you know? I thought I’d never get there, but Rafe has really changed my perspective.” I took a beat to swallow the lump in my throat. “But Rafe lives here, Dad. He loves this town, and his whole family is here. I’m moving to Paris, and I may never come back. I just don’t know what my future holds, so I think we’re going to just enjoy this time we have together and then wish each other well when it’s time for me to leave.”

“You’re really making MSL your priority, and I respect it. But life isn’t only about work, Lulu. Your mom and I have expanded Laredo’s growth together. We’re a team. You can have both. You know that, right?”

“You can if you’re both on the same page. We have very different plans for our lives, and Rafe is the one who has taught me that that’s okay. We can enjoy the time we have together, and then we’ll go off and chase our dreams on our own. When I was with Beckett, I lost sight of my dreams, and I won’t do that again. I worked hard for this partnership in Paris. So freaking hard. I chased it and didn’t give up the first four times they rejected the line. This is my priority right now because, in a way, I’m finally focusing on my own dreams, and I’m proud of that.”

After all I’ve been through in the last year, I was ready to spread my wings and fly.

“I’m proud of you for building something from the ground up and believing in it. But most of all, I’m proud that you are so focused and determined to accomplish the goals you set for yourself. I’m sorry I didn’t notice sooner.”

I swiped at the single tear rolling down my cheek. It had been a long time since I not only heard my father say he was proud of me but actually felt it.

“Thank you, Dad.”

“Well, give our best to Rafe. Hopefully, we can FaceTime with you both this weekend again.”

We’d started doing these calls together, and my parents loved him.

“Yeah, he told me he’s going to keep the weekly calls going with you even after I leave,” I said with a laugh.

My chest squeezed at my words.

At the thought of saying goodbye.

I had a hunch we’d keep in touch for a while. And then he’d probably meet someone, and it would be awkward to continue talking on the phone at that point, so things would eventually change.

It was part of life.

I hated the thought of Rafe with another woman.

The irony was not lost on me that I’d dated Beckett for years, and I felt nothing but relief about him having a child with another woman. I’d been desperate for him to move on for a long time.

But Rafe, a man I’d known for just a few months, a man who’d started out dating me on a lie to help me out—he was the one that I couldn’t stand to think of with another woman.

It made no sense.

I shook it off, pushing it out of my mind when the doorbell rang.

I hurried over and pulled the door open to find Henley on the other side.

“Hey,” she said, as she stepped inside. “I got off work early and thought we could go look for some outfits for all the events this weekend.”

It was Emerson’s wedding, and there was a bridal shower, a rehearsal dinner, and then the actual wedding.

“Yes! I need three outfits, and shopping is always a good idea,” I said. “I also wouldn’t mind a burger from the Honey Biscuit Café.”

“I’m starving. Food first. Clothes after.”

“Perfect,” I said, grabbing my purse as we made our way out to her car. We could have walked, as the sun was out and we weren’t too far from downtown. But we knew we’d have a ton of bags to carry, and this was just an easier plan.

We parked at the café and would leave the car there while we shopped.

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