Making my way down to my living room, I asked my friend, “Do you think I look good?”
It had been two days since I saw Jenner at the estate. My brother and his sister had left us, and we didn’t know what happened to them, so Jenner took me out for lunch. We had a nice day, but I told him I had to get home to Jenni.
He asked to meet her, which was a happy surprise. I worked yesterday, and he had to meet with a client for dinner, so today was the day Jenni would get to spend time with her father.
“You look gorgeous. Why?” Lydia lifted her right brow.
I hadn’t told her that Jenner and I had sex. She knew we had done it two years ago, but not since.
“Here’s the thing—”
“I knew it,” Lydia cut me off. “You and Dr. Fexy had sex. Recently. When you came home from the date the other day, I thought you had that happy-go-lucky glow about you.”
I nibbled on my lip. “Yes and no. I did have sex but not with Dr. Fexy. With Jenner. And I’m nervous.”
She patted the spot next to her on my couch. I went over and sat, letting out a deep breath.
“That’s a twist I totally saw coming. What’s to fear? You’re super-hot and your daughter is the sweetest thing in the world. If this guy doesn’t get down on one knee and propose to you by the end of the day, he’s an idiot.”
I dropped my head in my hands and groaned, “Don’t talk about marriage.”
“Why not? Do you not want marriage?”
“Sure. But not the way my brother thinks it should be.”
And right as I said that, I realized I never told her about running into Eric.
“That’s why you ran away from him. What’s he got to do with Jenni’s father? Do you think he told your brother he knows where you are?”
I sat back. “No, I don’t think so. Eric actually found me the other day...”
Lydia turned to face me. “Are you kidding me? And you said nothing?”
“I’m sorry. I had a lot on my mind with the new job and seeing Jenner again.”
“It’s fine.” She let out a sound that told me it certainly wasn’t fine.
“No, it’s not. I promise to make it up to you.” Then I told her all that happened two days ago. All about my brother finding me at the restaurant and forcing me to leave Wayde without a word. How my brother plans to marry Jenner and me, and how Jenner’s sister seemed to have a lot of anger inside her.
“Okay. I’m going to make you keep that promise. I like gold and diamonds, just saying.” She smiled, then got up and grabbed her purse by the front door.
“Hey, before you head back to your house, I wanted to ask, how’s the new neighbor?”
Someone guy just moved into the house next to her. I was on one side of her house, and the new guy was on the other.
“I sort of know him. He’s on the hockey team, so I know him through Daisy. I haven’t officially met him, but I’m thinking about baking some banana bread to take over. You know, as a welcome to the neighborhood gesture.”
“Sounds nice. Thanks again for watching Jenni for me.”
“My day is always brighter whenever I get to see her.” She made kissing sounds at my daughter.
Jenni giggled and tried to make kissing sounds back, but they sounded more like fart noises. Lydia chuckled as she left.
Now my nerves were creeping back. It was helpful to have Lydia here, not only to watch Jenni, but to keep me tethered to Earth. Without her reminders that the ridiculous scenarios my paranoid brain came up with were, in fact, crazy, I’d be huddled in a ball in the room’s corner.
There was a knock on the door.
“Okay, Jenni. You ready to meet your father?”