Page 95 of Off the Wall

Or make him stay.

Not gonna happen, Nori.

As it turns out, I couldn’t freeze the clock. The sun came up without my permission, and now I’ve got no plans for thefuture. Zero goals to achieve. I’m officially out of ideas for the rest of my life, and the silence here is just so … loud, it’s impossible to think. I can’t just sit around waiting any longer. Not when I know nobody else is coming home. So I yank a blanket off the back of our couch—my couch—and wrap it around my shoulders to head out to the courtyard.

I’ve just reached the bottom of the grand staircase, my blanket trailing behind me, when the front doors open and Cash steps into the lobby.

He’s got his suit jacket slung over one shoulder, his tie is off, and the first three buttons on his shirt are undone. His hair looks like a wild thatch of wheat. And yet, he’s never looked more handsome.

He spots me and tilts his head, surveying me from my fallen bun to my wrinkled bridesmaid’s dress. “You’re awake.”

“I couldn’t sleep.” It hits me again that two things I want most in the world are slipping through my fingers. My nose begins to sting, and I blink back tears.Do not cry, Nori. “I was just heading to the courtyard to think.”

His brow creases. “I guess that means you saw the video.”

“What video?”

“Oh.” His jaw shifts. “Your face … I just assumed.”

“What’s wrong with my face?” My voice cracks.

“Nothing.” He takes a hesitant step toward me. “You look beautiful, actually.”

“Actually …” I repeat. Then I burst into tears.

“Hey, hey, hey! Nori. Oh, no.” He closes the space between us, folding me into his arms right there by the lobby desk. “It’s going to be all right,” he murmurs into my hair. Then he begins to stroke my head so tenderly, for a moment, I feel almost okay. In fact, this is the most okay I’ve felt in hours. Which only reminds me of what I stand to lose when he leaves.

And how little I’ve got to gain.

“Violet’s selling the shop to someone else,” I finally sniffle into his shoulder. “I lost Serendipi-Tea.”

“Oh, man, Nori. No.” His chest expands with a long breath. Then he exhales deeply. “I’m so sorry.” He pulls me in closer, securing me in his arms. “What can I do?”

“There’s nothing anyone can do,” I groan. “Thanks to Glen.”

He takes a beat, a low sound humming in his throat. “Who’s Glen?”

“Larry’s friend.”

Another beat of silence. “Who’s Larry?”

“Violet’s boyfriend.”

Cash slides his arms down to squeeze my hands. “Sounds like we’ve got a lot to catch up on,” he says. “Come with me.” Still holding my hand, he gently leads me through the archway out into the courtyard. In this moment, being taken care of feels good. We drop onto a lounge chair, side by side, and he pulls the blanket back up around my shoulders. “Warm enough?”

I snuffle and nod. “Yes.”

“Okay. Tell me everything.”

Like a dam bursting, the story flows out of me, along with a healthy dose of tears. All except the part with the mirrors. No need to embarrass myself even more. Cash just listens while I fill him in on Violet’s conclusion that I’ve been too stressed out lately, and that buying the business must be the cause, so she’s decided to go ahead and sell the place to Larry’s friend.

“Glen Cottage’s stupid son is getting everything I’ve ever wanted,” I sniff.

Well, not everything, I think. But everything I’d convinced myself I could control.

“I’m pretty sure I’ve seen that guy’s face on a benchsomewhere.” Cash squints. “Do you think Cottage is his real last name?”

“Who knows?” I choke. “He should be called Glen Dream Killer.”

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