Page 62 of Things I Read About
Susan sighs.
“Hey, Suze?” I approach, before she can ask me more questions or give me any orders.
“Yeah?”
“Are you okay? Really?”
Her eyes start to water again. “I will be, sweetie. I will be.” I hug her, and she hugs me back, hard. So hard I wonder if she really will be all right. “I’m sorry about the smothering. I know you’re out on your own, grown up. I just worry.”
“I know,” I say, letting her draw out the hug way longer than can be considered normal.
“If you say everything is fine then I guess everything is fine.” She lets go but stares at me, waiting for confirmation. I nod. “Love you. G’night,” she says.
“Night.”
I look at the little line of flames dancing in the fireplace.
I sigh, and, with the release, I shudder.
Nate’s face flashes in my mind, gorgeous, cold, and angry. His hair is the same, short on the side with a thick wave of dark, dreamy locks on top. His deep brown eyes seemed darker than ever. At first, I thought he was hurt, but then he opened his mouth.
He’s disgusted. With my privileged life, my age, my big, fat fib about being a pianist. And he’s going to be here at seven in the morning, in my space, but inaccessible to me. All of his walls are back up. I didn’t see even a hint of attraction left in his gaze, confirmed by his cold tone when he questioned my health.
And, as I keep forgetting, I’m dating someone else.It’s not serious with Joe, but it is happening. He’s already texted a couple times since we parted ways at the end of Sadie’s event earlier tonight.
My eyes sting. I’ve imagined running into Nate twenty-six different ways so far. None of them included death threats and angry insults. I’ve thought of him every day. Every day for six months.
I’ve cried. I’ve played piano. I’ve even taken up cardio. I googled him thirteen times before giving up. Of course, a security consultant doesn’t have any personal information online.
And, of course, security consultant means bodyguard.
I was so distracted by his radiating sex appeal I couldn’t form logical conclusions. His scanning eyes, his safety tips. It was all right there. He was right there. And I left him.
He didn’t expect to see me again. He didn’t care that I left without a word. He doesn’t want to reconnect, only do his job. Which starts here, first thing tomorrow.
I put my hands to my eyes, pressing to help ease the pressure that’s building.
Susan will be heading home while Sadie, Skye, and Samantha are going off on glamorous adventures with their husbands. Adventures that have left me here with a long list of responsibilities to handle on their behalf.
They need my help. I’m available, capable. I didn’t want to upset them by saying no.
It’s…
No.
Nope.
This time, it isnotfine.
16
6:52. Eight minutes.
“I’m just not sure about this, sweetheart.”
So you and every single family member have said, in varying words, at least once this morning.
I yawn. “You can call me every day, Dad.”
