Page 60 of Let's Be Forever

SYLAS

As soon asAnna parks her car, I’m standing by the driver’s side. She stares up at me, face stoic, and when she climbs out, I note the muscles working in her jaw.

“I don’t want to hear it.” She heaves a sharp sigh, blowing her bangs away from her face.

She texted me two hours ago, letting me know she was taking me up on the offer. She didn’t explain, only said she needed a few weeks to figure out a new living arrangement.

She doesn’t know it yet, but I’m never letting her go.

I’m not sure how I’m going to make that happen, how to make her fall in love with me again, but I’ll figure it out.

This has to be fate, divine intervention—or someone really took pity on me and had our lives cross again. I didn’t happen to get traded to the same state and city she lives in by coincidence. I don’t know who or what conjured this up, but I’ve never been more grateful.

“I wasn’t going to say anything,” I supply innocently, and follow her as she opens the trunk of her car. “What can I do?”

“Nothing. We’ve got it.”

Maya is climbing out and opening the back door where I spot Rosie sitting in her car seat, sleeping. Maya and I reach for her at the same time, but I step back before we bump into each other.

I know little about her, and even less about how they started talking again. When Anna and I last spoke about her, she was upset because her sister cut her off.

Anna never gave me the details, only that Maya was angry that she was dating me. I hate myself for being what caused them to drift apart, even more so because I ended things.

“You get her, and I’ll help Anna,” she instructs, and stands next to her sister. They didn’t bring much, just a few bags.

I quietly push down on the buckle and remove the straps. Rosie stirs a little, babbling away, and her sleepy eyes pry open. She stares at me, but I don’t think she’s really looking at me, and when I lay her on my chest, cup her head, and cradle her, she settles and falls back to sleep.

I have this need to hold her tighter, kiss the top of her head, beg Anna to stay here forever because how am I supposed to let them go?

When I close the door, the girls are staring at me with indiscernible expressions. I can’t even begin to guess what they’re thinking.

“Ready.” Anna pats the duffle she’s carrying on her shoulder. She has one on each shoulder and a bookbag, while Maya only carries a suitcase and her purse.

“Here, let me.” I go to grab one, but she draws back.

She firmly clutches the handles of both. “I got it.”

I almost smile at her stubbornness. “Okay.”

Her brow furrows as her gaze descends to my lips as if she can sense that I’m trying to keep them flat. “We’re tired. Are we going in or what?”

“Come on.” I walk past her, and as I do, grab the strap of one, tugging it off her shoulder and draping it over mine.

“Sy—”

“Shhh, you’re going to wake up Rosie,” I whisper, moving forward, knowing they’re following behind me.

I’m sure her eyes are narrowed on the back of my head, annoyed with my insistence, but little does she know that this is only the beginning.

The entire ride up the elevator is quiet. Neither girl says anything, and Rosie is still sound asleep. When we enter my condo, I give them the quickest tour and show Maya to her bedroom.

I expect her to stay quiet, but she thanks me and offers me a small, friendly smile.

When it’s time to show Anna to her room, I can feel her physically stiffen. She freezes by the entryway, staring incredulously at the sage green–colored crib.

“No you didn’t. When? I—” she stammers, wide eyes fixed on me before returning to the crib. “Do you have another kid I don’t know about?”

I chuckle and step into the room, carefully laying Rosie down. It’s a little hard because she turns and slightly sits up before dropping down and falling back to sleep. Once I know she’s not going to wake up, I set the duffle on the dresser.