I shake my head in quiet disbelief. “It must be amazing to exist in the world that way. To let life washover you, taking what you need and leaving what you don’t.”
“You should try it,” he suggests.
I snort. “Try it? I can’t even imagine it. I’ve spent my entire life wondering where Elise and I wouldbe if my mom had put us first. Where we’d be if our parents gave a single shit.”
“Howard gives a s**t, Belle.”
“Maybe half a s**t,” I mumble, resting my head on the arm of the chair. Nikolai’s office is surprisinglywarm, and the overhead light is off, so the room is lit by the gentle glow of his desk lamp. It’ssoothing.
“You don’t have to decide anything about Howard now. But I’ll text Yuri and have him scope out therestaurant where he’d like to meet. He can make sure ev
