Page 7 of One Night

“She’s… I think she wants something more than friendship.”

“Yeah?” Nora clears her throat. “She’s gorgeous. You two would be cute together. Plus, she’s got a kid near Ellie’s age which would be good, right?”

I laugh. “Britney isnotgorgeous. She’s fake and over the top. I’ve told her to stop with the meals and the visits multiple times, but Becca is Ellie’s best friend, so it’s an awkward situation.”

Nora stares toward me for a long moment, her mouth open slightly as though something is on her mind, but she doesn’t say any of it.

“What’s up? Did she do something weird?”

“No. She just told me about Ellie’s schedule and how she made meals sometimes for you guys, that you all played with the girls together, and oh… she mentioned how she slept over a few times.”

I wet my lips and rock the chair back. “She tell you I wasn’t here for that?”

“What do you mean?”

“She stayed over with Ellie when I went out of town to get some horses that were needing rescue. It was a last-minute thing,” I laugh, “but she made it sound like she’d stayed with me, didn’t she?”

Nora wets her big red lips and nods. “Yeah, which is fine. I don’t need an explanation. It’s your life, and I mean…”

I drag in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I know. I just wanted you to know where I stand.”

“What is your favorite meal?”

“Lasagna, but not like that,” I laugh. “My grandma used to make this one version. I don’t know what was in it. I’ve tried recreating it dozens of times, but it never turns out like hers.”

Nora nods slowly before taking a sip of beer. The wind blows her hair back and the song of crickets begins to quiet around us. “When I was little, my sister used to take me to this baking class with her. We learned all about different spices, but I never do much cooking. Damn it. I probably shouldn’t have told that story given you brought me here to cook.”

“Ha, well, anything is better than that lasagna Britney makes. It’s dry, and she uses some kind of seasoning that’s just awful.”

We sit silently rocking back and forth in the breeze, watching the fern leaves blow and the horses graze in the early evening light. I shouldn’t be thinking about how to get my hand brushing against hers again, or how to sit closer to her, or how to breathe her in, but the thoughts are running through my head like an obsession.

I need to shift my focus.

“Did Ellie ask you anything weird today?”

“Weird? Weird how?”

“About her mother? She’s been asking more questions lately, and I thought maybe she’d have tried you out.”

“No, nothing. Is there something I should know?”

As I think about what to say next, headlights beam up the driveway. There aren’t many places that deliver up here, but this pizza place promises to go anywhere on the mountain. I believe that advertising has gotten them into trouble a time or two.

I glance toward Nora. “Maybe we can talk again after dinner. That is if you’re interested.”

Her round face lights, and she smiles sweetly. “I’d love that.”

“Perfect. It’s a date.”

Write that under things I never should’ve said.

Chapter Five

Nora

He used the word ‘date.’He actually used the word,date.

My heart beats heavy as I try not to read into it, though I’m not sure who wouldn’t. It’s a word used for people to read into. He could’ve used a plethora of words.

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