Page 105 of Love or Leave

"I signed the divorce papers. Everything with Fran is completely over. We can start fresh, take it slow and—"

She shook her head, cutting him off. "It's too late."

She turned and walked away, heading for the group before he could say another word.

He'd lost the battle, but the war was still raging. She didn't feel like she could trust him, so he'd have to make her understand he was in it with her for the long haul. But how was he going to do that without becoming a stalker?

Back to the drawing board.

thirty-three

Cara walked into Monroe Manor and dropped her bag.

She'd blasted her music on the way home from the observatory, but not even the belting vocals of Adele could drown out Antonio's voice in her head, telling her he loved her.

Or that he was spaghetti.

Why was that the oddest, grossest, and most romantic thing she'd ever heard? She wished he'd hated the observatory and thought it was boring. But she knew he'd love it. She could see them together there—talking, touching, kissing.

Was it a mistake to tell him they should just be friends? Every part of her ached to go to him, fall back into his arms, and believe everything he said.

She shook her head and sighed as she took off her shoes. Even if he'd signed the divorce papers, and even was being honest with her and loved her, how could she tell it would last? How long would it be before Fran came knocking again?

"Cara?"

She turned away from the stairs at the sound of Willow's voice calling from the back of the house, but before she could reach her, all of her friends came rushing down the hall toward her.

Cara pulled up short, as if she was being ambushed. "What's this?"

They all searched around her, looking over her shoulder at the closed door.

"Are you alone?" Adam asked, his eyes wide.

"Obviously."What were they expecting?

"Where's Antonio?" Natalie asked.

Cara's eyebrows shot up. She took in the matching looks of confusion.

"Didn't he come see you tonight?" Chelsea asked.

Cara froze in her tracks and blinked. "How did you know?"

They all looked at one another, then back at her.

Cara zeroed in on Willow, knowing she seemed to be interested in her and Antonio getting together. "Willow, did you tell him where I'd be?"

Willow shook her head. "Not me."

"Then who—"

"I did," Max said.

She looked up over everyone's heads at Max. "You?"

Max nodded.

Cara stared at him, dumbfounded. "You?" she emphasized.

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