Page 117 of From Nowhere

Oh, Lola . . .

“I will,” I say.

“And be careful when you’re flying.” She keeps tugging at my heartstrings.

“I will. I’ll see you later if it doesn’t rain, or tomorrow if it does.”

“Okay.” Lola waves when I close my door.

I’m in. I’m all in.

I love this little girl.

I love her dad.

I love this version of myself with them in my life.

It rains.

I finish cleaning what little Jamie left for me. Then I sit on my one piece of furniture.

It’s quiet. Too quiet.

I don’t have a TV yet, and my internet won’t be connected until Monday. While I stare at the popcorn-textured ceiling from my velvet sofa with Bandit purring on my lap, someone knocks at my door.

A soaked Ozzy grins when I open it.

“What are you doing?” My jaw drops.

He shakes like a dog, and I wrinkle my nose when the water hits me.

“I snuck out,” he says, removing his boots and stepping inside. He digs his hand into the pocket of his rain jacket and pulls out six dandelions.

We both stare at the sad, wet, and wilted little flowers.

“It’s the thought that counts, right?”

I bite back my grin and nod while peeling them from his open palm. He has no idea how much his thoughts count, how much they matter to me and my sappy heart.

“Where can I put this so your wood floor doesn’t get wet?” He holds out his jacket.

“Uh.” I look around. “Maybe the bathroom. It has vinyl flooring.”

Ozzy tosses his jacket into the half bath and lifts his T-shirt to dry his face.

I set the dandelions on the counter and turn, staring at his abs and tattoos.

“I assumed you and Lola would come tomorrow. It’s almost ten,and it’s raining,” I say.

“I heard you got a new sofa.”

I flip out my hip and cross my arms over my chest. “You heard I got a new sofa? That’s why you’re here? You couldn’t wait until tomorrow to see it.”

Ozzy cants his head, gaze shooting over my shoulder. “It’s a bold color.”

“I’m a bold woman. And you have blue appliances in your kitchen.”

He smirks.

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