Jake flattened his palms against the tile wall, dropping his head as the water pulsed against his neck. He had a fight ahead of him, a fight he’d never had to take on before. Business, horse racing and training, that’s what he knew.
What he didn’t know was how to fix all the broken hearts he’d left scattered all over his life.
Seventeen
Lily felt like an absolute fool. When she’d left Jake’s home three days ago, she’d not been thinking of anything but how to get away from him. There was only one place she could think of to go and here she sat in the Barringtons’ kitchen, sipping orange juice and wondering what in the world she should do next.
“Honey, you’re going to have to eat something,” Linda said.
The woman had been an absolute comfort these past couple days. She’d not asked questions, she’d merely opened the home up and Damon had even told Lily she could stay as long as she needed.
Problem was, she needed support, comfort, a shoulder to cry on and she didn’t want to admit it. But they had fussed over her; even Tessa and Cassie had come over to comfort Lily. They’d brought some clothes when they found out she’d left his house with nothing but the suitcase that had still been in the trunk of her car.
To be coddled and pampered wasn’t why she had come, but she had to admit, nursing wounds with people who weren’t going to stab you in the back was a refreshing change from her LA life. She could stay there—okay hide there—until she figured out what to do.
Today, though, her doctor was coming by the estate to give her a checkup. Since leaving Jake’s house, she hadn’t been feeling well. Of course, she’d not been eating a whole lot, either. She made herself eat for the baby, but in reality she probably needed more.
Insomnia had become an unwelcome friend, too. She was in a strange bed, alone and heartbroken, but she’d keep that to herself. The last thing she wanted was pity from anybody. All she wanted was to make sure her baby was healthy and then she needed to confront Jake. As much as seeing him again would kill her, she needed to discuss the baby. He was the father and there was nothing she could do to change that cold, hard fact.
“Maybe just some toast,” Lily told Linda, trying to avoid eye contact with the caring woman.
“After the doctor leaves, I expect you to eat a full lunch.” Linda put a piece of toast into the toaster and turned back around. “No excuses. You need your strength for that baby and to fight that stubborn man of yours.”
“He’s not my man.”
Linda laughed. “Oh, honey. Of course he is. He made some major mistakes, but you love him. You just need time and so does he. He should suffer for what he’s done, I agree with you there, but don’t make any major decisions right now.”
Lily took another drink and smiled. “I couldn’t agree more about the suffering, but I don’t think time will make this hurt any less. He lied to me, Linda. Twice. I can’t forgive that.”
The toast popped up just as Damon entered the kitchen. The man looked about as rough as Lily felt. His silver hair was a bit disheveled, the dark circles beneath his bright eyes proved he wasn’t getting sleep.
Join the club.
“Sit down,” Linda ordered. “I want to talk to you, too.”