Page 120 of Backup Plan

Everything was.

The night I ran into him at that bar, I had no idea how my life was about to change. I had no idea that I’d feel more for him in a month than I felt for my ex-husband in the entirety of our marriage.

No one talks about what it’s like to fall in love with someone, to marry a man thinking you’re going to spend the rest of your life with him, only for it to come to a tragic ending. And no one really talks about what it’s like to give everything up just to get out of the trap he’s set.

But here we are, and this is my reality. I have no permanent place to live, but at least I’ve been saving on rent. For now. I have to figure out what I’m going to do with the boys and how I can support them on my salary alone. I have to figure out where I want to settle and what I can afford now that it’s just the three of us.

Maybe Everleigh’s offer comes with a pay increase, and I should take her up on it.

Maybe there’s some other solution I haven’t thought of yet.

But now that this is officially over and I know that I’ll have my boys full time, at least I can concentrate on finding solutions and moving forward. And I think those solutions just might include Liam Bradley.

“The woman you love?” I repeat softly.

He presses his lips together and nods. “The woman I want to be with. Whenever you’re ready.”

Tears fill my eyes as I pull his mouth down to mine, and for the first time in weeks, I feel like I’m home again.

CHAPTER 38: Liam Bradley

Brunch

“Okay, you two. Get a room.” Everleigh’s voice snaps us out of it, and I realize it’s the first time she’s actually seen the two of us together.

It was her idea for me to be here today when I admitted how miserable I’ve been without Penny.

She told me that Penny’s been miserable, too. I told her that I was staying away so as not to interfere with her divorce, and I knew I wanted to go to the prove-up so I could be there the moment her marriage was officially over.

Dolores is watching Liora out in the hallway, and I can’t wait to introduce Penny to my little girl.

I pull back. I have a million things I want to say, but it feels like right now, here in this courtroom…it’s not the time. Maybe later when I get her back to my place…if I get her back to my place.

“We have brunch reservations in twenty minutes,” Everleigh says, glancing at her watch as I reluctantly pull apart from Penny. “Let’s go get the baby so we can get to the restaurant.”

“The baby’s here?” Penny asks, her voice a whisper.

My eyes soften as a small smile plays at my lips. “The baby’s here.”

“Oh my God!” she squeals, and she claps her hands together. “Bring me to her! I’ve been dying to meet her!”

I chuckle and grab her hand to lead her out of the courtroom, but Everleigh stops her first to give her a hug.

“Congratulations, Penguin. I’m so happy for you that this is over,” she says softly.

“Thanks, Ev. I’m so glad you came, and I’m really super glad you made brunch reservations because I couldn’t eat this morning.”

Everleigh giggles and lets go of Penny, whose hand is still attached to mine. I lead her out of the courtroom that way, and I love how it feels to hold her hand in public with no worries of my sister finding out about us.

I pull her over to Dolores, who’s waiting with hand sanitizer for anyone who wants to hold the baby. She hugs Penny and congratulates her as I reach into the carrier since Liora’s eyes are opened. She’s looking all around, quietly taking in the sights.

“Hey, baby girl,” I croon softly as I pull her out, and when I stand and turn around, three women are gaping at me with wide eyes and slackened jaws. “What? Did I do something wrong?”

It takes a second for them to snap out of it, but it’s Penny who speaks first. “No! Quite the opposite. You’re already a pro at this Daddy thing.” She walks to me and takes the baby from my arms, and a pulse of love overwhelms my entire body as I stare at the woman I love staring the baby I fall more in love with every single day. “Oh my goodness, sweet girl. Aren’t you beautiful?” she murmurs.

Liora makes a little cooing sound.

“She likes you,” I say, and Penny smiles.