When I started working for Lizzy, I quickly discovered the woman was a powerhouse of energy. As the days passed, it became evident that she refused to allow me to stay tucked inside the tiny shell, which I’d grown accustomed to. She needled, and poked, and prodded until I’d had no choice but to finally accept that there was now a person in my life who genuinely wanted to be my friend. Slowly but surely, I let her in. We’d go to lunch together, and occasionally meet for drinks at Colt 45’s when I was able to find a sitter. She also introduced me to her close circle of friends, who were some of the most accepting, loyal people I’d ever had the pleasure of meeting, and eventually, I invited her over to my tiny two-bedroom apartment and did the one thing I’d been holding off doing—I introduced her to Cameron and Callie.
My little bundles of excitement immediately took to the fiery redhead and instant bonds were formed. I even reached the point where I trusted her enough to babysit on the rare occasion I felt like getting out by myself for a movie or dinner.
Forming a bond with Lizzy had been exactly what I needed, to feel like I was finally putting down some stable roots for me and my kids. For the first time in as long as I could remember, I was actually happy. It was a foreign emotion and took some getting used to, but I loved it.
Over time, our friendship grew to the point where I found myself opening up to her about my past. I told her about growing up and how my tumultuous relationship with my parents led to an even worse relationship with Lance. I trusted her whole heartedly to keep my secrets to herself, and she’d yet to prove herself unworthy of my trust. I’d grown closer to her girlfriends, Emmy, Savannah, Mickey and Stacia, and could even consider them to be close acquaintances. I was thrilled to finally be filling my life with so many wonderful people.
But there was still one aspect of my life that I refused to change for the foreseeable future. I would not allow a man into mine and my children’s lives. I was happily single and determined to stay that way. It had been beaten into me from a very young age not to trust men, and I didn’t see that mentality changing any time soon.
Lizzy was fully aware of that, which was why I was surprised to see her pushing this so hard.
“Liz, honey. Just because you went off and married yourself one fine piece of man meat doesn’t mean I’m on the market. No relationships,” I insisted as my friend stared at me with her shiny green eyes, filled with mischief.
She let out a dreamy sigh, “Trevor is one fine specimen, isn’t he?”
I laughed in agreement. I didn’t know the man all that well, and just because I didn’t trust the male species didn’t mean I was blind. I could still appreciate a fantastic piece of eye candy when I saw one. And Trevor Devareau was certainly that.
He and Liz had been close friends since he moved to Cloverleaf a while back. One weekend took them from BFFs to husband and wife in the blink of an eye, and even though she was hesitant at the beginning, I could see it written all over her face, she loved that man something fierce. I was happy for her. Truly, I was. My past relationship might have been a nightmare, but I refused to allow myself to be so disillusioned that I believed all relationships out there were just as bad off as mine was. Trevor really did seem genuine, and he never bothered to hide his love for Liz whenever he looked at her. There were even times when I saw him watching her like she was his universe and I’d feel….almost envious. I used to be naïve enough to think that was how Lance looked at me in the beginning.
Never in my life had I been more wrong.
“You know,” Lizzy started casually. “He asked about you the other day…”
I knew she was meaning it as a way to capture my interest, but fear immediately took hold of me as I spun around to look at her. “What did you tell him?”
Her eyes widened in understanding as she grabbed each of my hands in hers. “Nothing, I swear! I’d never do that, honey. Everything you told me was in the strictest of confidence. I’d never repeat that.”
At her assurance, I released the breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.
“He just wanted to know about you. He’s interested in you, Kenz. And I promise you, Brett’s one of the good ones.”
“It’s not that I don’t believe you,” I explained. “I’m sure he’s great, but you know how I feel about getting involved with a guy. It’s just not something I’m capable of doing.”
Lizzy’s eyes grew soft with understanding and—God help me—pity. I hated the pity most of all. “I understand, honey,” she said quietly. “Please, just promise me you won’t close yourself off from the idea of a relationship for the rest of your life. You deserve to have someone who’ll treat you like you’re his world.”