My new relationship with Denton grew slowly. He took me out to dinner several more times, and we always stopped short of groping each other on the sidewalk before parting for the night. It was pretty obvious that we were dying to fuck each other, but we were taking our relationship a lot more seriously this time.

I was fine with that.

Mom’s little boutique was doing far better than we’d expected, especially for a new business. Her clientele and connections from her previous job gave things a boost, and word of mouth began to spread. I suspected Ernest also had a hand in Mom’s success, since spouses of his affluent acquaintances and friends dropped in occasionally to buy an expensive outfit or two. Or sometimes five.

It definitely kept Mom and her assistants busy, to the point where I also had to lend a helping hand some weekends.

“You know, I really want to quit my job,” Rach blurted out one Sunday morning, sitting at the breakfast table.

I put my toast down on my plate. “Why? You like teaching kids.”

“I used to like teaching,” she amended. “But my job’s going nowhere. Honestly, I’m feeling pretty disillusioned lately.”

Rach hadn’t said much about it, but her moodiness had been building ever since we moved into the condominium. For starters, her relationship with Dylan was starting to fizzle. Apparently, he’d called her a spoiled princess as soon as he saw where she now lived.

“Why don’t you take some time off?” I suggested. “Maybe you could work part time at the boutique and think about what you really want to do. Or I could quit work and we could be two unemployed bums living together.”

She winced. “You have an excuse—you’re pregnant. Besides…” Her face turned pale. “Dylan said I had to stop mooching off you.”

“What!” The nerve of the guy! “He had no right to say that to you. Maybe he lashed out because he was scared of losing you, Rach.”

“I-I don’t think he’s completely wrong, though.” She hugged herself, avoiding my eyes. “I mean, you bought me a new car. Our European trip was mostly funded by you. I’m living on Park Avenue for fucking free. And here you are, saying it’s okay for me to bum around and live off your generosity. It doesn’t make me feel good, Tiff. If anything, it makes me feel pretty useless.”

This was even worse than I’d anticipated. “Hey, look at me.” When Rach stared back, her gaze gloomy, I reached for her hand. “Do you remember all those times when you had to pay for my food because you had a steady job and all I had was that low-paying position at Morning Brew? And when I left the penthouse, you let me stay at your place for free, even though I had money in my bank account. And what’s more, you always looked out for me.” I smiled at her fondly. “You’re like family to me, Rach. What’s mine is yours. And I hope that what’s yours is also mine, because I’ve been eyeing some of the sexy lingerie you bought recently.”

She rolled her eyes, looking a little more cheery than before. “Good thing I haven’t worn any of them yet. Sure, take your pick. I recommend the black or the purple one.”

“Maybe I’ll take both.” I squeezed her hand. “Don’t even think about leaving, Rach. I mean it.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

“And if Dylan ever tries to make you feel bad again, dump his useless ass.”

Rach sighed. “It would be a shame, though. He really is cute.”

“Cute or not, he sounds like an asshole,” I muttered under my breath. If he ever hurt her again, he would have to deal with me.

After finishing breakfast, we decided to visit my mom at the boutique. The store closed on Sundays, but she was such a workaholic that she spent the days taking inventory of new stock arrivals and making sure her clienteles’ orders were up to date. Seriously, she needed a break.

“Guess who dropped by this morning.” I’d finally talked Mom into sitting down for coffee, and she sipped the steaming brew and waited for me to guess.

“I don’t know. Ernest?”

Mom shook her head. “It was Andy. He came with a bunch of marigolds and said he was sorry for not coming over on Christmas.” She sighed wistfully. “He’s such a nice boy.”

“Nice boy?” Rach repeated, laughing. “Didn’t Tiff tell you how he cruelly dumped her via text?”

Mom frowned. “I do remember that. But it seems so unlikely.”

I sighed, exhausted by the thought of Andy. “Mom, don’t go encouraging him, okay? Andy only wants me back because he took one look at Denton and realized I’d found the perfect man. And it kills him that I found someone so quickly after he dumped me.” I exchanged glances with Rach. “This is about his wounded pride. That’s why he keeps pursuing me even though I’m having another man’s baby.”

Mom shot me an admonishing glance. “He didn’t even talk about you once. All he did was ask how I was doing, congratulate me on the boutique, and apologize for not coming on Christmas.” Her lips thinned. “Don’t always think the worst of people, Tiffany. I didn’t raise you to be so cynical and mean-spirited.”

Okay, so maybe she was right. I was pretty cynical when it came to Andy. But didn’t I have my reasons? And hadn’t he treated me like shit up until Denton came along?

But I said none of these things. Instead, I mumbled an apology and left it at that.

Rach, on the other hand, was on my side. “You have every right to distrust Andy,” she muttered once Mom left to take a phone call. “I love Ms. L, I really do. But regarding this matter, she has no clue what she’s talking about.”

“She’s too nice, that’s all.” I shrugged. “Anyway, we should probably let her get back to work. Mom!” I shouted. “We’re leaving now. Thanks for the coffee and juice.”

“I’ll see you both at home!” she called out, then quickly returned to her call.

Right before we left, I glanced over my shoulder. I had no sane explanation for this, but something told me Mom was talking to Andy on the phone.