Page 254 of When a Soul Cries

And that was enough.

I didn’t need to turn it into some big emotional speech.

The boutique was something I wanted for myself.

Something new.

Something I could build from the ground up and be proud of.

My phone buzzed for the third time.

I sighed and finally pulled it out.

**Kai:** You alive or you ignoring me professionally today?

I bit the inside of my cheek.

Sol leaned sideways trying to see.

I turned the phone away.

“Nosy.”

“Tell your boyfriend I said hey.”

“He is not my boyfriend.”

“Mhm.”

I quickly typed back.

**Me:** Both.

His response came almost immediately.

**Kai:** Good. Thought I was losing my touch.

I rolled my eyes.

And smiled anyway.

Damn him.

I slipped my phone into my pocket and looked around the townhouse again.

Halo sat in the middle of the empty living room now, surrounded by two toys and completely content.

Sol stood near the window with sunlight falling across her face.

Boxes were everywhere.

Nothing matched.

There wasn’t a couch.

No dining table.

No decorations.