Page 94 of Beauty
And still I knew you were the only one for me. And if I couldn’t have you, then I didn’t want anyone else.
His words have played on repeat in my head since he uttered them two nights ago. I didn’t have the capacity to wrap my head around them then, and even now, I’m still lost.
He could see it that night, I’m sure. So he pressed one more kiss to my lips and offered to give me time.
I had over a year to work through this. You’ve had a few days. I can wait.
The thing is, I don’t know that Icanwork through this. My emotions are all over the place, and, more importantly, I’m stillangry. Angry at myself for missing him for so long. Angry that I suffered on my own for so long. Angry that I wasn’t worth the risk to his friendship with my brothers until I was forced back into his life.
If not for my position with the Bolts, would he have ever come for me? I’m afraid to acknowledge that the likely answer is no. Because even the thought hurts. And it makes it impossible for me to forgive, let alone move on.
But every time I get within three feet of the man, I lose all sense. And my panties.
It’s embarrassing.
Hot too, but so,soembarrassing. I’m thirty years old. I should have the capacity to maintain at least some semblance of control.
Head down, I step into the hall with my luggage and purse and lock up quickly, then stride toward the elevator.
I’m in the elevator, almost home free, when a voice echoes down the hall.
“Can you hold that?”
My shoulders sag in response to the unfamiliar female voice. Okay, I can handle a ride in an elevator with a stranger. So with asure, I press the button.
A beautiful woman I haven’t seen in the building before practically glides down the hallway, smiling. “Thanks,” she chirps as she steps into the stainless-steel box. “Do you mind waiting one more second? They’re coming.”
A heartbeat later, Noah’s door opens, and my fight-or-flight instinct kicks in.
I consider how she’d react if I pretended not to hear her request and let the doors shut, but before I’ve made a decision, Ollie comes running down the hall, making the choice for me. I can’t very well let the doors close in his face. Especially after theway his eyes light up when he sees me. “Sienna, what are you doing here?”
The woman beside me tilts her head, her dark hair falling over one shoulder, and eyes me with a look of confusion.
“I live here,” I say, looking from him to the woman on the other side of the elevator. “I met Ollie last week at a Bolts game. With Hannah.”
Lips tipping up, she holds out a hand. “I’m Jen. Ollie’s mom.”
It hits me now how obvious that should have been to me. But I’ve been too preoccupied with bracing myself to come face to face with the man who’s now appeared outside his apartment door.
Noah is dressed in a navy suit. One of those straight ones that hits his ankle, exposing bare skin in an area that shouldn’t do anything for me and yet does.
It’s irritating how good-looking the man is. How his black glasses only make him more handsome. He approaches with one bag slung over his shoulder and two rolling suitcases behind him.
That’s a lot of luggage.
My stomach flips over as realization dawns. He’s not traveling alone. Shit. Are Jen and Ollie traveling with him? Is shewithhim?
Jealousy burns up my throat, hot and acidic, making it impossible to focus on what any of the people around me are saying. Ollie is chattering, and Noah is watching me as he steps into the confined space, his brow furrowed, like I’m a scared animal at risk of snapping at them.
“I, um—” I point into the hall. “Forgot—” I bolt out of the confined space, away from Noah’s family, and rush toward my door.
“It’s fine. We’ll hold it,” Ollie singsongs.
“No need,” I squeal over my shoulder, fumbling for my keys.
The door next to mine swings open, and voices echo through the hall. When I recognize one, I squeeze my eyes shut and take a steadying breath. Before I can compose myself enough to get the key into the lock, that voice calls my name, killing any chance I had at escaping.
“You haven’t left yet? Yay!” Hannah says. “We can ride together.”
