Every Sweet Regret (Orchid Valley 2)

ItsyBitsy123: Not all guys are good like you. In fact, some days it seems like you’re the only good one left. And don’t freak out on me. I know you’re not ready for anything serious and you’re seeing someone else. I just really enjoy talking like this.I swallow hard. I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing here, but I’m not ready to give up talking to this girl or touching Stella. And I don’t know where that leaves me.

GoodHands69: Don’t you dare lower your expectations. You deserve everything you want and more.Chapter ThirteenStellaWhen I get home from my shift at The Orchid Thursday night, I’ve spent so much time clutching my phone to my chest that I’ve practically become one with it.

Don’t you dare lower your expectations. You deserve everything you want and more.

Yes, I’m pretty much floating on cloud nine after a few sweet messages from Kace. Maybe Savvy’s right, and this thing with Kace can become something more. I want to believe it.

Either way, if I didn’t know tonight was one of his nights with Hope, I would’ve surprised him at his house after work. But since part of what makes him so irresistible is that he’s a good dad before all else, I drove home. It’s for the best. I need to spend every moment until bed studying for tomorrow’s chemistry exam—because apparently, when you only have six weeks of class, your first exam comes during week one.

“Stella, baby, come in here, please?” Mom calls as I walk in the door.

I cringe at her tone. That’s her you’ve-been-keeping-secrets tone. The one she’d use when she caught me sneaking out at sixteen.

I drop my purse onto the entryway table and kick off my shoes before plodding to the kitchen.

Mom’s sitting at the table with a cup of coffee. I get my brew addiction from her, but I can’t drink caffeine at all hours of the day like she can. I like my sleep too much, whereas Mom can mainline it twenty-four seven and sleep like a baby. I suppose I’m not just like her yet. “Hey, Mama. How was your day?”

She wraps her hands around her mug and studies me. Mom has an easy smile. Only when it’s missing am I reminded just how much it hides the sadness in her eyes. Is this what I’ll look like in twenty-five years? Sad and lonely from years of falling for the wrong guy and beating myself up about it? “Your brother told me you’ve been apartment hunting.” She sighs. “And even though he denies it, I’m guessing you made that choice so I can move?”

“It’s fine, Mom. I really don’t mind. I want you to move to Lakeview. It’s perfect, and you have friends there.”

“And I want to support you while you get your nursing degree.”

I force a smile. I can’t bring myself to tell her that if I can’t pass chemistry, there’ll be no nursing program for me, let alone the degree, and the accelerated pace of the six-week course means I’m far enough in after a few days to know I’m in way over my head. “You do support me. Every day. Always have.”

“You know what I mean. Can you afford this?”

I shrug. “I can afford some. Not a lot. I’m looking for a roommate rather than my own place.”

She sighs. “Better than rooming with your old mom, I’m sure.”

“Psh! Are you kidding? You’re the best roommate. You always keep the coffee pot fresh.”

She bows her head and studies her coffee, and dread swells in my chest.

“What is it?”

“I can’t afford this place anymore, sugar bean. My mower broke, so the neighbor’s been letting me use his, but I also need a new roof, and I’m a little behind on the taxes.” She rolls her eyes. “I thought it was supposed to be a good thing when the value of your home went up, but it’s not been so great for me. I was a little irresponsible and refinanced a couple of times when I needed money for this or that, and the mortgage kept creeping up along with the taxes, and . . .” She blows out a breath. “It just all feels like too much these days, but luckily, selling could solve a lot of my problems. Dean thinks he could flip it fast for me, so I’d get enough to put fifty percent down on that condo—that’s the only way the bank’s gonna give me the loan, ya know.”

I cover her hand with mine and squeeze. “Then sell. I’ll be okay. I won’t be homeless.”

“I don’t want Dean to do anything until you have a place to stay.”

I force a smile. “I already have a place.” I won’t allow her to continue struggling just because the timing is inconvenient for my love life. “Kace has that guest house he’s been wanting to rent out, and I’m planning to stay there until I can find something else.”