“At least now I can cut it off without getting my heart ripped out.” I kept my eye on Theo, who was still holding the baby while the crew filmed him showing the head librarian around. She beamed up at him as he pointed out various aspects of the grounds. He was so different than the man I’d worked for, so open, so real. Genuine in his warmth, so quick to offer a smile. I didn’t dare say it, but I knew then that it was already too late for my heart not to get trampled.

“Damn girl, what’s got you thinking so hard?”

“No comment.” Julia knew me too well not to know the answer for that. So, I wrapped my lips around my teeth and kept all that mess inside. Next to me my best friend sighed, and when I turned to her she put an arm around my shoulder. Her eyes were all shiny.

“This patio is a fucking dream, Albita.” She gestured all around us. I smiled, not just because I was very happy not to talk about my obsession with Theo, but because I agreed wholeheartedly. This place was a movie. We’d redone the courtyard in the center of the building as two separate spaces. The showpiece, my glass atrium in the center of the building, was almost finished. We’d left the original fountain in the middle of it, which would be surrounded by benches and a hanging garden. A climate-controlled oasis for those scorching Texan days.

“It does look kind of awesome,” I admitted.

“You are brilliant at what you do. I’m so fucking happy I get to see you doing your thing.”

“Thank you, friend.” I put my head on Julia’s shoulder and for once let myself soak in the praise.

“Doing the skylight was a great idea,” Julia said, as we watched Mona instruct one of the families on what to do for the camera.

“That wasn’t my idea, it was Theo’s,” I confessed, and Julia gave me one of those smug looks she seemed to have on tap these days.