Page 95 of For Your Consideration

“Stop calling me short.”

“Sutton.”

I relented and took the shirt, holding it out so I could see it. It was what looked like an old school shirt of his. He was right, it would probably come down to my mid-thigh since Asher was so huge all around. Definitely bigger than my ex.

I’m sure he’d be bigger—

Nope. Not going there.

It was clear that it had been washed a number of times because it was soft and the University of Cambridge crest had faded.

“It’s yours to keep. Burn your other one. I have more.”

“I’m not going to burn it,” I laughed as he watched me, blinking.

“I have a firepit.”

I opened my mouth to respond but instead I just shook my head, pretty sure he was serious.

Sophie cried out, giving me an excuse to throw the shirt over my shoulder so I could go pick her up. She kept the bunny in her grip but lifted her hands for me, resting her head on my shoulder once she was on my hip.

“She might never give this back.”

His face was soft as he looked down at her. “I’ll buy thirty more.” I knew he wasn’t joking. “You’re not staying?”

I wanted to, boy did I want to. But I wasn’t ready for that tonight.

“Sophie and I don’t have clothes and Iris is watching her tomorrow so it’s easier if I’m next door in the morning.”

He nodded at my logic. I could tell he was disappointed but not surprised.

“Soon?” His eyes came up to mine.

My heartbeat hammered in my chest at the hope in his eyes. His calm steady presence grounded me, shifting some of the weight on my shoulders.

The butterflies I’d been constantly fighting off around him had taken root tonight and I didn’t think they were going anywhere.

“Soon,” I agreed.

25

Sutton

“Ihonestly can’t remember the last time I did this,” I told Quinn as I pushed Sophie’s stroller out of the store. We’d spent the last two hours at the mall, wandering around, browsing stores I hadn’t been to since before I was pregnant.

Thanks to my job, I was able to buy a new top that Quinn said I had to have and a few new things for Sophie without sweating about the total. Financial stability was a liberating feeling. Not stressing as much about providing for my daughter was such a relief.

“Me neither.” She threw her coffee in a garbage can nearby as we made our way to where we’d parked. She had insisted on driving so we’d transferred Sophie’s seat to her car. She told me she didn’t drive much these days so she wanted the chance to. “Okay! On to phase two of girls’ day.”

I smiled at her as we walked. I was eternally grateful that she had come into my life. She was a fantastic boss but an even better friend. She was always open to listening, always looking to include me, not to mention funny and down to earth. I’d never had a friend like her.

“What is phase two exactly?” I asked as I strapped Sophie into her seat and Quinn loaded the stroller into the back of her SUV.

It was brand new, black, very high end with a very high safety rating. She’d rolled her eyes when Knight gave it to her, insisting he return it, but he’d already gotten rid of her old car. She wasn’t impressed, they got in a fight, and then she forgave him.

Observing their relationship helped me see how adults should treat each other when they really loved each other. I’d never experienced anything like it. And it gave me some hope for what I could have one day. For what it was like when people stayed.

“We’re going to pick up my friend Aubrey and then we’ll grab a bunch of junk food and wine and spend the night watching movies,” she said as she started the car and pulled away from the mall.