And lately, on top of all her other worries, Ming had started to wonder how Evan would feel if he found out about her and Jason. Something that might just happen if they weren’t more careful.
“Yes. But it’s not going anywhere.”
Ming’s gaze strayed to the bathroom door she hadn’t completely closed. Muffin had yet to return to the bedroom. What was going on in there?
“Because you don’t want it to?”
“I guess.”
That tight spot near Ming’s heart eased a little. “You guess? Or you know?” When her sister didn’t answer, Ming asked, “Do you love him?”
“Yes.” Lily stared at her hands.
Ming’s throat locked up, but she couldn’t blame her sister for falling for Evan. The heart rarely followed a logical path. And it must be tearing Lily apart to love the man who’d almost married her sister.
“I think you should forget about moving to Portland.”
“It’s not that simple.”
Time to rattle her sister’s cage a little. “Funny, Jason told me Evan’s dating someone, but his situation is complicated, too.” Ming gave a little laugh. “Maybe you two should get together and compare notes.”
“I suppose we should.” Lily gave her a listless smile.
Was there a way for Ming to give her sister permission to have a future with Evan? “You know, I was glad to hear that Evan had found someone and was moving on with his life.”
“Really?” Despite Lily’s skeptical tone, her eyes were bright with hope.
“He and I weren’t mean to be. It happens.”
“That’s not how you felt six months ago.”
“I’m not going to say that having him break off our engagement two weeks before the wedding was any fun, but I’d much rather find out then that we weren’t meant to be than to get married and try to make it work only to invest years and then have it fail.”
Ming’s cell phone rang. She plucked it off the nightstand and answered it before Lily could respond.
“If I’m going to be stuck in your bathroom all morning, I’d love a cup of coffee and some breakfast.”
“Good morning to you, too,” she said, mouthing Jason’s name to Lily. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired and a little aroused after checking out the lingerie drying in your shower.”
“Sure, I can return your car.” She rolled her eyes in Lily’s direction. “Are you sober enough to drive me back here?”
“I guess I don’t need to ask what excuse you gave your sister for why my car is at your house.” Jason’s voice was dry.
“I can follow you over there and bring you back,” Lily offered.
“Hey, Lily just offered to follow me to your house so I can drop the car off.”
“You’re a diabolical woman, do you know that?”
“I’m sure it’s no bother,” Ming continued. “We’re going to make breakfast first though.”
“French toast with cinnamon raisin bread?”
“That’s right. Your favorite.” And one of the few things Ming enjoyed cooking. “Pity you aren’t here this morning to have some.”
“Just remember that paybacks can be painful.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize you needed your car to go shopping for Max and Rachel’s wedding gift this morning. I’ll see you in fifteen minutes.” She disconnected the call. “I’m going to run Jason’s car over to him and then I’ll come back and we can make breakfast.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to drive you over there?”
“No. I think the fresh air will do him some good.”
She escorted Lily to the kitchen and settled her with a cup of green tea before she headed for the front door. Jason was already in the car when she arrived.
“Lily sounded upset this morning,” Jason said. “Did I hear her say she put an offer on a house?”
“In Portland. But she seems really unsure what her next move is.” She drove the car into the parking lot of a coffee shop in her neighborhood and cut the engine. “She’s conflicted about going.” She paused a beat. “Did you know they’re sleeping together?”
Silence filled the space between her and Jason. Ming listened to the engine tick as it cooled, her thoughts whirling.
“Yes.” He was keeping things from her. That wasn’t like him.
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“I didn’t want you to get upset.”
“I’m not upset.” Not about Lily and Evan.
Last weekend she’d discovered what she really wanted from Jason. It wasn’t a baby she would raise on her own. It was a husband who’d adore her and a bunch of kids to smother with love. She was never going to have that with him, and accepting that was tearing her apart.