Page 57 of No Way Home
I watched him saunter toward exam room three. The way his shoulder muscles moved under that shirt…oh my goodness. “You too,” I whimpered.
My shields were obviously busted!
“Very good friends?” Topher asked, following me past the charting area and to the front desk. “What does that mean?”
“Out!” Marissa, the receptionist, shooed Topher back.
Topher gestured at me. “But Magnolia and I were in the middle of a conversation.”
“You heard the woman. Goodbye, Topher,” I sang.
“Fine.” His eyes danced down my body and back up again. “But we’re not done here.” He turned and huffed away.
Marissa and I shared a look.
Knowing Bowen was in the building put me on high alert. Every time I heard him say something to one of his men off in the distance, my lips twitched, desperate to smile. But I wouldn’t let myself, even if I loved his voice. Which I did. Dang it. But I could not feel anything warm, fuzzy, or content toward him. I’d already spent two years clawing my way out of the crater he left in me.
One more Bowen Dupree heartbreak would finish me off for good.
Chapter Twenty
MAGNOLIA
I didn’t tellAbilene about Bowen being at Seddledowne Family Medicine right away. I needed a few days to gear up to it. But when I did, she was full of suggestions. I lay on my bed as they rolled in.
Abilene
Tell Bowen about Topher. Maybe he’ll have some ideas for how to shake him off.
He might be all smolder and I-don’t-want-any-part-of-your-drama for everyone else, but for you? I guarantee he’s all fang and fire.
I tried to picture it: Bowen stepping up to protect me—going toe to toe with Topher. I couldn’t.
You mean Bowen, who didn’t fight for me at all?
Bowen who made it clear that he never wanted that kiss in the first place?
Bowen who was preemptively hurtful so America would know he and I were not together, just in case Netflix decided to air the kiss?
He’s supposed to be my Superman now?
Abilene’s texting indicator wiggled far too long for a girl who was always quick with the comeback. But when her simple message came through, it said everything.
Abilene
Yeah. Bowen’s not an option.
But what if she’s right? What if Bowen’s the answer to the Topher-plague?
“No!” I stomped that idea like a roach, and I swiped over to the raw footage Netflix had recorded. Thank goodness Ford convinced them not to include the kiss, even though we’d all signed a contract stating they could useanything they caught on camera. Most people would delete any evidence of the worst decision they’d ever made. Not me. I kept it, so the next time temptation whispered, I’d remember just how fast I could ruin everything.
I took a deep breath and pressed play.
The camera zoomed in on me, swinging like I was weightless as I conquered…
The Beater.
Chapter Twenty-One
