Chapter 11 #2
The first boutique was a whirlwind. Kelsey twirled in front of the mirror in a pale blue dress with her hands stuffed into the pockets. “Momma, look. I look like a princess.”
Glenna’s heart squeezed. “You are a princess. My Princess.”
Jorja tossed a pair of jeans and a sweater onto the counter. “We’re getting these, too. And shoes. And?—”
“Jorja.” Glenna’s voice was strained. “I can’t?—”
“You can.” Jorja’s tone was firm. “Zorro said whatever you need. So we’re getting whatever she needs.”
Glenna opened her mouth to argue, but Serena cut in. “Glenna, honey, I’ve seen that look on Jorja’s face before, and I’m telling you, there’s no point in arguing. Let Tyrone, ‘kay ? It’s not weakness. It’s letting him do what he feels he should have been doing all along.”
Glenna pressed her lips together. Fine. She’d take the damn money. But she wasn’t going to like it.
Three stores later, Kelsey was the proud owner of two dresses, three pairs of jeans, a stack of shirts, sneakers, sandals, and a tiny leather backpack she refused to take off.
Glenna had let the women talk her into a few things for herself.
A soft sweater, a pair of boots, and a sundress she’d never have picked out on her own.
Now, they were seated at an outdoor café, the table laden with plates of pasta, bruschetta, and a carafe of wine.
Kelsey dug into a plate of spaghetti with the enthusiasm only a seven-year-old could muster. “This is the best food ever!”
Chari laughed. “Wait till you try the gelato.”
Glenna sipped her wine, watching the easy camaraderie around her. These women—they were wives. Partners. Mothers. They belonged in this world of Operators and missions and danger.
She no longer did. She wasn’t even sure if she ever had. Her fingers tightened around her glass.
“You’re thinking too hard.”
She looked up. Siobhán was watching her, her blue eyes knowing.
Glenna exhaled. “It’s a lot.”
“It is.” Siobhán leaned back in her chair. “But you don’t have to figure it all out today. Or tomorrow. Hell, you don’t have to figure it out at all if you don’t want to.”
Glenna’s laugh was bitter. “That’s the problem. I don’t know what I want, or what the options are, or what happens next.”
Siobhán’s gaze sharpened. “Bullshit.”
She blinked.
“You know exactly what you want.” Siobhán’s voice dropped. “You’re just scared to admit it.”
Do they know?
Oh. My. God. They. Do. Know.
Her face burned.
Damn it.
Because Siobhán was right. Glenna wanted Kelsey safe. Happy. She wanted a home for her child, somewhere they could live forever. And she wanted?—
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out, her stomach dropping when she saw the unknown number.
Unknown: Spend it. All of it. Consider it every Christmas and birthday I missed.
Who is that?
Unknown: You’re welcome.
Is that Tyrone? It has to be.
She typed back before she could stop herself.
Glenna: How did you get my number?
The bubbles appeared instantly.
Unknown: I have my ways.
Glenna: Of course you do.
Unknown: Good. Now stop arguing and enjoy your lunch.
She wanted to throw the phone, but she also wanted to laugh. Her fingers flew over the screen before she could second-guess it.
Glenna: You’re insufferable.
The reply was immediate.
Unknown: And yet, you’re still texting me.
She groaned and shoved the phone back in her pocket.
Siobhán smirked. “Trouble in paradise already?”
Glenna glared at her. “There is no paradise.”
Siobhán just laughed.
Lunch stretched into gelato where Kelsey chose Stracciatella, Glenna stuck with limone and once they were done, they began a slow wander back toward the where they’d parked. The women chatted easily, the kids darting between them, and Glenna found herself relaxing despite everything.
Then her phone rang.
She pulled it out, her stomach flipping when she saw Unknown Caller flash across the screen.
She answered. “Hello?”
“You’re not spending the money.”
Tyrone’s voice sent a shiver down her spine. She glanced at the women, who were suddenly very interested in the shoe shop’s window display.
“How do you?—”
“I have my ways,” he repeated, and she could hear the smirk in his voice.
She huffed. “I did spend some of it. Kelsey has a whole new wardrobe.”
“Good.” A pause. “What about you?”
Her face heated. “I got a few things.”
“Glenna.”
She bristled. “What?”
“Spend. The. Money.”
She wanted to argue. Wanted to tell him it wasn’t his place, wasn’t his right. But the memory of last night and the way his breath had hitched when he’d almost kissed her, the way his hands had trembled, flashed through her mind, and she caved.
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
There was a beat of silence as if he was confused that she’d agreed before he answered. “Yeah.”
Her chest ached. “Is that all, Tyrone?” she asked, then winced internally, because now the other women knew who’d called her.
“Yeah.”
“Okay. Do you need me to pick up anything for you while I’m here?”
“Nope, I’m good.” Someone spoke in the background of his call, “I gotta go. I’ll see you soon.” He ended the call.
She stuffed the phone into her pocket and froze when she realized the women were all looking at her.
Jorja’s eyebrows were practically in her hairline. “Well. That was interesting.”
“Stop it.”
Jorja grinned. “Oh, this is gonna be fun.”
Glenna groaned.
Damn him.
Damn all of them.
God help her, because damn the way her traitorous heart was still racing.