walked right past them into the bathroom. When I woke on the floor hours later, she had packed everything she was taking.”
“Jesus. I’m sorry that happened to you.” Hearing it from him makes it much worse, even if he speaks as if it’s all water under the bridge now.
“And I’m sorry Rod was a huge loser who never deserved you.” He finishes his glass of wine and pours another, topping up my glass too. “But if there is one thing I have learned in all this, it’s that no amount of heartbreak can kill you. The heart is far more resilient than we give it credit for being.”
The way he says it and his eyes flicker to mine, I understand I am part of that heartbreak he has endured.
I hate that about myself.
By the time we finish the bottle, I’m tipsy from hardly eating all day and need to leave before I do something I’ll regret. I stand, making him stand.
He towers over me, his stare burning.
“Thanks for the catch up,” I say, though we really didn’t catch up. We sort of continued on from the moment our relationship ended all those years ago, joking and laughing with familiarity. Though now it lacks the ease it did before.
History is in the way of any chance of real comfort.
“I’m glad you came over,” he says and pauses. I suspect there is more on his tongue, but I can’t do this. Not with him.
“Me too,” I agree and walk into the apartment. “I’m sure I’ll see you around.” I wave and go to the door.
“Lil,” he calls, coming into the apartment after me.
I turn, facing him.
We lock eyes, staring to the point I resign myself to where this is going. I can’t fight it. I don’t want to, though it will end in heartbreak again.
He swallows whatever he was about to say and lifts my wine glass. “Your glass.”
“Right.” I force a smile and reach out as we walk to each other.
A spark zings my fingertip when our skin touches as I take the glass from his hand.
He inhales sharply.
I’m certain he’s going to move, maybe even pounce, so I turn and hurry to the door. “I better get back to Liz. See you later.” I rush from the apartment and into mine, closing the door and leaning against it.
My heart is in my throat.
“Lil?” Liz calls.
“Coming!”
I take a few breaths to calm down before going to my sister’s aid.
But there is no calming down.
Not with Samuel Christianson next door.
Chapter 30
May 13
Sam interrupts my pacing with a knock on the door. I hurry for it, answering quickly. “Did you see her?” I practically shout at him.
“I did.” He smiles. “Liz is doing great. I saw her right before the surgery. She was—very ready,” he says with a laugh. “James said the moment it’s done he’s calling.” He pulls me into his arms and kisses me softly. “She’s going to be fine. We have next to no Covid cases in the entire province. This is her third child. She’s a relatively healthy woman.” He bends to pet Romeo who has sprinted from the room at the sound of Sam’s voice.
“She’s more than relatively healthy. Jesus. She is a runner when she’s not pregnant. And you know what?—your opinion on this sucks. You called her a geriatric pregnancy and I saw you side-eyeing the amount of Ben & Jerry’s she ate. She doesn’t handle bed rest. At all. She watched It’s a Wonderful Life three times in a row last week. She’s a mess.” I’m a mess.
“Right, okay. So that’s a sensitive subject.” He grins.
“This whole thing has me on edge.”
“You need to stay calm and wait. It’s normally a couple of hours before a mother is out of recovery. I wish I could stay up with you but I have to go to bed. I’m at the point of delirium.” He kisses me again and squeezes my hand. “I won’t sleep long. I don’t work again for a few days. Are you free later?” he jokes, knowing I am going nowhere.
“I guess, since I don’t get to see the baby.” I pout.
“But you do get to see me,” he offers as if he’s a poor second choice.
“Okay.” I give him a hug and melt into him.
“But I’m not watching Christmas movies,” he says into the top of my head as he places his lips there.
“Fine.”
He squeezes once more and steps back. “And I won’t lie, I’m excited your sister isn’t in your bed