Page 94 of Off the Wall

You really shouldn’t be here, a familiar voice warns in my head.

But I belong here a whole lot more than I did at Hayden’s wedding. Speaking of which, I can’t help wondering how things are going at the reception. I hope Nori’s dancing. And sipping champagne. Enjoying lobster and filet. Taking selfies with Hayden and Keeley.

Those women are lucky to call Nori their friend.

You could be her friend, too, man. You don’t have to cut ties with her just because that’s your history. Try something new for once.

Yeah, right. I should just wait around for Nori to fall in love with someone else? Even if she wanted to stay in touch with me, I’m guessing her future husband wouldn’t be too fond of future contact. Lord knows I wouldn’t want Nori staying good friends with any of her Swipe Rite dates.

Not that I’ll ever have a say in that.

I’m just tossing the empty Doritos bag in the trash when Cullen pokes his head out into the hallway. “Are you gonna hide out here forever?”

“Nope. Just finishing my chips.”

“Good.” He arches a brow. “Because Lauren has a question for you.”

She probably wants to ask when her epidural’s coming, so I head back into the room, happy to be the bearer of good news. As I come through the door, she’s in the same position as before, eyes on her phone, watching a video.

The volume’s cranked on what sounds a whole lot like a string quartet playing “Someone to Watch Over Me.”

“Hey there, Cash.” She looks up, and her mouth goes crooked. “Who’s Nori?”

Chapter Thirty-Four

Nori

My best friend is married.

Hayden King has officially been Mrs. Jasper Perkins for a full twelve hours. She’s also on her way to Maui with her brand-new husband for their two-week honeymoon. Meanwhile, I’m the opposite of married.

Or in Maui.

What Iamis curled up on the window seat in our apartment—my apartment, now—watching the sunrise over the buildings across the street. Alone. I was the last one to leave the reception. Well, Keeley and I were. Even Andrew took off before we did. He was tired, and I offered to drive Keeley home, so he wouldn’t have to stick around.

After Andrew left, we danced a bunch more with Hayden. We took a million pictures and ate our weight in cake. And the whole time, I pretended I didn’t just get my heart ripped out by Violet. I couldn’t bring myself to tell Hayden or Keeley about Serendipi-Tea.

I wasn’t ready to admit defeat.

Even now, the person I want to confide in most spent the night at Worcester Medical Centernottexting me. I supposeI’d better get used the lack of contact, though. Cash is about to move thousands of miles away. He’ll be busy adjusting to his new position. So it’s really unfortunate that over the past month he’s become the person I turn to in times of need.

The one I lean on when things go wrong.

The one I share good news with too.

Although, to be fair, there hasn’t been that much good news for me lately. Still, my most-recent best moments have all been with Cash. With no planning or expectations, he became a whole hand for me. And yet, that same hand has to wave goodbye to him. Soon.

And Hayden’s already gone.

Well, not entirely. She started packing up the day after school got out for the summer, but she gave up and decided to wait until after the wedding. Still. As soon as she’s back from her honeymoon, she'll be moving into her new home with Jasper.

Mixed emotions flood my body.

I’m so happy for Hayden. And so sad for me.

When Keeley and I got back to the building at two o’clock this morning, I didn’t try to sleep. I didn’t even change out of my dress. Instead, I kicked off my heels, put on slippers, and settled into the window seat.

Since then I’ve been watching the sky shift from inky black to gray, then purple, and finally pink with orange streaks. As silly as it sounds, I was kind of hoping I could slow daybreak with my mind. I mean, why not? If the mirrors here can reflect all these visions of Cash and me, I figured I might as well try to work some magic of my own. I just wanted to make time stop.

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