Page 74 of The Route to You

The past six months had been . . . interesting. Evan had screwed himself, thankfully, by attempting to defame Kyle, and that— surprisingly— had helped her get Sadie back, which was the important part when all was said and done. But the Tipton lawyers had played hardball on everything , from threatening to sue for damages relating to wedding costs and more, until Sloan had signed an NDA to simply walk away, dog in one hand, dignity semi-intact in the other.

She hadn’t cared about the furniture or the ring or, in the end, even having the ability to bury Evan’s hopes for a political career by telling the world about Tasha.

She just wanted out.

“Are you happy?” Penny asked, her voice brisk as they stopped in front of the elevators.

“Happy’s a weird word for it,” Sloan said, flicking her eyes at her sister. She frowned. Penny looked drawn and almost pale, as though she’d been working too much. Not that Sloan would comment on it. Penny prided herself on working almost as much as Dad.

“Well, you should be happy. The money from the Bozeman house will help you with that brand-new start you keep going on about.” Penny pressed the button to call the elevator.

Sloan bit her lip. Penny didn’t approve of Sloan’s plans to move halfway across the country, but she couldn’t quite understand why. It’s not like Penny would miss her. They’d spent more time together in Margaret’s office the past few months than they had doing anything that remotely resembled having an actual sisterly relationship.

When she didn’t answer, Penny grimaced. “I still think⁠—”

“I know. You still think I should accept Dad’s offer to work for him again.” Sloan stepped into the elevator as the doors opened. Penny followed. “But that part of my life is done, Pen. I’m not good at it anyway.”

The doors closed, and Penny crossed her arms. “Speaking of things that you’re not interested in,” she said, “That journalist from The DC Gazette , Jennifer Larson, emailed me again.”

Sloan groaned. The woman had been relentless, hoping to get an exclusive about everything that had happened in January. “Couldn’t talk to her if I wanted to, so just please tell her no.”

Penny frowned. “I know you signed that NDA,” she said, not bothering to hide her unhappiness about it from her tone, “but are you sure you don’t want to say something to give your side of the story? Evan really did a lot to slander you, Sloan. Setting the record⁠—”

“I’m not interested,” Sloan said sharply. In fact, she couldn’t think of anything she wanted to do less than talk to a journalist about the whole nasty affair. “Not to mention that it would be a huge risk now with the NDA. If I say anything Evan’s lawyers see as out of line, I could be risking my entire financial future.”

Penny huffed. “You wouldn’t have to be if you’d just let Dad help you.”

Sloan gripped the strap of her purse. “Is it really so unimaginable that I would want to stand on my own two feet? I don’t think there’s anything unnoble about that.”

The elevator doors opened again, and both women exited. Penny slowed at the sight of Cheyenne, who sat on a bench nearby, waiting for Sloan. “I don’t think it’s unnoble. Just unnecessary,” Penny said flatly. “But it’s your decision.” She gave Sloan a tight smile and nodded. “Thanks for letting me come. I’ll see you this afternoon at Dad’s, before you leave.”

“Thanks for coming,” Sloan said as Penny left with a wave to Cheyenne. Maybe she should feel worse about how stilted her interactions with her sister were, but it had been this way for years, and sadly, Penny didn’t seem interested in it being any different, either.

Cheyenne stood as Sloan moved toward her. “How’d it go?” Cheyenne asked brightly.

“It’s done,” Sloan said in as positive a tone as she could muster, almost sing-songing. “I’m free.”

“We have to celebrate.” Cheyenne hugged her.

Sloan hesitated, then allowed herself to sink into Cheyenne’s hug. She didn’t really want to celebrate, but lunch, at least, would be a good idea. Cheyenne had only come to San Francisco for this, after all. The least she could do is treat her to a meal.

“There’s a great Thai place down the street,” Sloan said, straightening.

Cheyenne grinned. “That sounds amazing.”

They headed out from the lobby, Sloan leading.

Truthfully, Cheyenne had been a rock the last couple of months. She felt almost as bad as her parents, Tallulah and George, for their part in Kyle’s arrest.

Not that they could have known.

Not that any of them could have known.

They’d simply been trying to protect Sloan.

But none of it changed the fact that Kyle had been arrested because of her, his name besmirched, and that there had been complete radio silence since then.

She’d thought he would call first thing when he got out of jail, but then she’d remembered he couldn’t have reached her as she didn’t have a phone. It wasn’t until she’d been staying with Tallulah and George that she bought a new phone.