“But—” Grayson started, and I gripped his bicep. He looked down at me, a deep groove between his brows. Pain. Worry.
I knew what Grayson was feeling, because I felt the same bitter conflict. After everything, it was coming to an end. We had no real connection to Lottie anymore, but I worried for her. She was in the same boat as us, but without any tether or life boat.
Yet it wasn’t my place to demand answers.
The best thing we could do was let her go.
I squeezed his bicep and he let out an exhale. Like okay.
“Charlie?”
Lottie froze at the voice. In the pale sunlit doorway, a shadow of a man stood. He took another step inside, and his features became visible.
Jack.
Lottie’s Jack.
“What?” Lottie blinked. “Why are you here?”
Grayson and he exchanged a long look.
Oh no. Oh, fucking no.
I glared at Grayson. You fucking didn’t.
“I, uh…” Grayson scratched his head. “I may have…sent him a letter.”
Both Lottie and I shot him the same look at the same time.
“Why would you do that, Grayson?” Lottie gritted.
As if on cue, the reason started to cry in his carrier. Jack’s gaze zeroed on it, following as Lottie lifted her baby out. Unblinking. Focused.
Stunned.
“I’m…” He swallowed, Adam’s apple bobbing. “I’m staying at our family home, here in town.”
“I don’t see why I need to know that,” Lottie clipped.
“Charlie—”
Lottie spun, giving him her back.
After a minute, Jack exhaled. “You know where to find me.” He walked back the way he came.
I glared at Grayson.
Grayson grabbed Sonnet from my arms, acting completely oblivious to my and Lottie’s ire. He rocked Sonnet back and forth, making faces.
“What did you tell him?” Lottie demanded.
“Nothing that was yours to tell,” he said easily, still making faces at Sonnet. “But you deserve to be happy, Lottie.”
Lottie’s face caved, then she shook her head. “Not with him. Never with him.”
Grayson sighed. “Lottie—”
“Grayson, with you I became someone wrong, someone greedy, someone bad. A liar. I was the other woman. With him…” She looked over her shoulder, at Jack’s retreating body. “It would be ten times worse. I’m not just the other woman, I’m the same age as his daughter. A daughter I like. Jack and I were never supposed to happen.” She shook her head. “It will never happen again. I will never be that woman again.”