Page 140 of An Inconvenient Marriage
Drawing back, I swallowed the burst of emotion clogged inside my throat. “You’re right, I know you are. I just need a little time. Besides, co-designing with Aurulia has been absolutely amazing.”
“Look at you living your best damn life.” She pulled me in for one more quick hug, then grabbed her purse. “I gotta run. Anthony is finally back today and I want to be home when he gets there.”
A flicker of sadness burned in her eyes, but when she blinked, it was gone again. My concern however was not. Before I could voice it, though, she spoke again.
“I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I am for you, Nat. You deserve everything good.” Keys in hand, she headed for the door. “Let’s do lunch on Monday.”
After we arranged to meet at our favorite place, she wiggled her fingers in a wave and waltzed out of my apartment. I watched from the doorway, waiting until I couldn’t see her anymore before shutting the door.
Then I just stared.
Everlee had been right when she told me I was already in my someday. Because there had been a time not too long ago when I hadn’t even dared to dream any of this would be possible. Knowing that filled most of my heart with warmth and happiness.
The other part—the biggest part—needed something, someone else, to be complete.
Without thinking, I slipped my phone from my back pocket. There was a slight tremble in my fingers when I unlocked the screen and tapped on my contact list. And even though it held more numbers than it used to, I still didn’t have to scroll very far to get to the one I wanted.
Zach.
All I had to do was press that green button and I’d hear his voice again. I studied his name, thumb hovering over the green button.
Push it.
No, I can’t. He never wanted me, he just wanted to use me.
And if you’re wrong?
I didn’t have time to finish thetotally normalconversation I was having with myself when a piercing knock sounded against the door. So sudden and so thunderous, my entire body jerked and my phone flew through the air.
“Oh my gosh.” I pressed my hand against my heart and tried to catch my breath long enough to face whoever was out in the hallway without looking like a hyperventilating idiot.
It took a second, but when I was as calm as I was going to get, I flung the door open. Only to have something shoved in my face.
“Found this outside your door.”
The voice behind the enormous basket belonged to the building manager, Mr. Driscoll.
And just as I recognized him, I didn’t even have to peek at the basket to know what it was.
Three bouquets of pink and white roses and half a box of chocolates.
The same things that had been left outside my door from the day I’d moved in. And just like that day, my heart instantly tried to slam through my chest. How could it not when the delicate petals so closely resembled the ones that hung from the arch the night I gave myself to Zach?
The night he so earnestly said a man doesn’t share his chocolate or his woman.
I closed my eyes and, with a deep breath, I took the sweet scent straight to my lungs. More than once I’d wondered, hoped, that these gifts were from Zach. But since no card was ever attached and the man himself hadn’t contacted me at all, I figured it was nothing more than wishful thinking.
What if…?
Mr. Driscoll cleared his throat and effectively pulled me from the hole I’d fallen into.
“Sorry,” I muttered as I set the basket on the floor behind the door. Once I faced him again, I tipped my lips into a wide smile. “What brings you by this morning?”
The older man scrunched up his nose and pulled a face. “I have news. And before you go yelling at me, you should know I only found out about it this morning.”
My heart skipped a beat. “Oookay.”
“Apparently, this building was sold a few days ago, and now the new owner is going through everyone’s leases.”
