“Mom...” Hazel turned in the center of the room. “This is... Wow. It’s perfect!” She ran over and wrapped Zoey in a tight embrace. “I love it! But you said we were on a budget...where did you get that amazing bed? Tani?”

“No, the bed is a gift from Vickie.”

“She bought me a bed?”

“No, sweetie. She had the bed and didn’t want it anymore. It was close enough to your dream bed that she thought it might work.” Zoey nodded toward the headboard. “She added the jewels herself.”

“OMG! This is going to look so sick on my videos.”

Zoey grimaced. “Just don’t forget the rules, okay? No videos that show any skin or anything risqué, right? Safety first.”

“Yes, Mom.” Hazel’s voice drawled out like a verbal eye roll. “I know. You tell me every other day. You know I only do fashion and stuff, right?”

“And you know it’s my job to keep you safe and happy, right?” Zoey didn’t want to start an argument right now. “Does the room make you happy?”

Hazel’s smile returned, brighter than ever. “So happy, Mom. It’s amazing. Can I have Sienna stay over this week? She’ll scream when she sees this.”

“Sure, honey. How’s Sienna doing?”

“Better. She and her mom talked, and her mom’s gonna lay off the dating app for a while.”

Zoey hid her dismay at the answer. “Really? Doesn’t that make her mom sad?”

Hazel raised an eyebrow. Damn, where did she learn to do that like such a grown-up? Her daughter folded her arms, Zoey-style. Oh...that’s where.

“Didn’t you just say it was a mother’s job to keep her children safe and happy?”

“Well, yeah, but...moms like to be happy, too.”

She knew Mike was frustrated with waiting to tell Hazel. But it was bad enough that Zoey had allowed her marriage to fail. That she’d lost Hazel’s childhood home. That her daughter was dealing with so much upheaval in her life. She couldn’t, in good conscience, bring more stress into this house by saying hey, I’m dating Mike McKinnon and we’ve been shagging in Pop-pop’s old office! Cool, right?

They’d have to wait just a little longer. Hazel lost interest in the conversation—she was too busy checking out her new bejeweled bed. At least the bedroom was a win.