Page 94 of Tripped By Love
“What?” I asked.
“He’s covered in flour.”
My phone beeped as she sent me a selfie. I stared at it, my heart filling my chest. Chevelle had his head resting on her shoulder, and his face and body were covered in white powder, but Cassidy was glowing. Her hair was down, swinging about her face, and she was wearing my T-shirt—the one she’d picked up off the hotel room floor and never given back.
“God, you’re beautiful,” I said.
She laughed again. “I’m exhausted, but thanks.”
“How are things with Cliff and Willow?” I asked.
She’d been working with them to hand off a lot of the day-to-day management of the restaurant. It had been challenging for all of them in different ways, and Cassidy was still filled with guilt because of everything Brady had done for her that she felt like she was walking away from. I just kept reminding her that she wasn’t walking away. She was making things better—for her and Chevelle, as well as Cliff and Willow, because they’d both gotten promotions and more money due to the change.
What we didn’t talk about was Hardy, or the DNA test results they were still waiting for, or the call I was desperate for about Warren. It felt like we still had a few dark clouds hovering around us that we hadn’t been able to banish yet.
We talked for a few more minutes, and then we hung up with I love yous hanging between us?not said?but still there. We hadn’t said them again since that moment by the stairs, but the air was still full of promises we were trying to find our way back to. When I turned around, Maliyah was watching me with a curious expression on her face.
“What?” I asked.
“You’re happy. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen you that way.”
My stomach twisted with my own remorse. She’d been so good to me, and somehow, I’d never let her know how much it meant.
I took a step toward her and hugged her tight. Like Cassidy had taught me. Until the air squeezed out of us both. Maliyah chuckled softly. “Careful, these old bones might not make it through that kind of grip.”
“Thank you,” I said, looking down at her.
She got all teary-eyed. “Nothing to thank me for.”
“Yes, there is. Thank you for stopping the bleeding. For being there for me at both of the worst times in my life. I don’t know what I would have done without you. I love you. I’m very lucky to be able to call you my family.”
Tears fell down her wrinkled cheeks, and she patted my face. “You must be in love. My tough boy has become all maudlin.”
Jonas ambled in on legs that seemed to have grown even more. He needed new clothes. Everything seemed to have stretched tight on him in every possible way. “Are we eating soon? I’m starving.”
Maliyah and I laughed and made our way to the kitchen and the thousand containers of food that Maria Carmen had sent us home with. We ate and laughed and teased. My heart expanded and swelled at the little family we were. People who loved each other unconditionally, regardless of our mistakes and our pasts.
After I’d cleaned the kitchen, my phone rang. It was Trevor. He was holding down the fort for me single-handedly, and I tried not to feel guilty about it. This had been the longest I’d been absent from my post since joining Garner.
“What’s up?” I asked, stepping outside onto the back porch.
“So, we got some new information on Clayton Hardy and his wife,” he said. The somberness in his voice raised the hackles on my neck.
“Tell me.”
My heart fell as he told me everything, finally understanding why he was going after Chevelle. Understanding exactly what was at stake and hating him for it all the more. Also knowing he wouldn’t give up easily. But I wouldn’t let him take Chevelle from Cassidy. No way in hell.
I had to get back to Grand Orchard.
“Do you want me to tell her? Or Brady?” Trevor asked.
“I want to be the one to tell her,” I said because I wanted to be there to hold her in person when I did. I wanted the news to be softened by arms that loved her.
“Okay…” He trailed off because I hadn’t given him or Garner a return date yet, and this was obviously news that couldn’t wait.
“I’ll figure it out,” I told him. “If something changes and I can’t get there quick enough, I’ll tell Brady so he can break it to her.”
But that wasn’t going to happen. I’d been aching to get back to Cassidy and Chevelle even before this. Now, I had even more reason. My glance strayed to the half-torn-up backyard. Jonas and I were xeriscaping it just like we’d done the front while leaving room for the planters Maliyah needed for the herbs and vegetables she liked to grow. My mind reeled with how I could get it done quicker. Maybe if I enlisted some of Maria Carmen’s family, we might be able to get it done in a day or two instead of the week it would take just Jonas and me.
