Page 138 of Three Pucking Ex's Brothers
What could she be waiting for?
Abbe holds up her hand. “That doesn’t mean you should text her, but…” She flashes her gaze at me. “If you did…it might not be a bad idea.”
I can’t believe this. She’s telling me to reach out.
“Okay,” I say.
I head for my car, pulling out my phone. I stare at it, trying to figure out the words to say, when I get a text.
From Nora.
Nora:Hey
One word. One single word that instantly makes my heart leap with hope.
Me:Hey
Nora:Can we talk?
I feel the tears sting my eyes as I shakily tap out yes, while she texts me again.
Nora:All of us?
All of us. She wants to talk to me and my brothers. I don’t think twice, I just say yes. I’ll work on getting them on board.
Maybe I’ll tell them we’re going to get some laps in at the track at the park. It’s what we’ve been doing almost every night. I’ll just…have Nora meet us there, instead.
I text her to meet us at the park track at five—our usual time. She agrees. I should leave it at that. After all, Abby said not to push too hard, but I can’t help myself. I need her to know.
Me:I miss you.
I hold my breath, thinking she might not even respond, but she does. And when I read her text, my heart skips a beat.
Nora:I miss you too.
For now, it’ll have to be enough. Until five o’clock, that is. When I make Nora Brighton mine—ours—once and for all.
Rush looks a little worse for wear when I get home, but at least he’s not drinking today. Only on game and practice nights.
Freddie’s as grumbly as always, but when I tell them it’s time to head to the park, neither of them argue. These past few weeks, I’ve almost become the wrangler. I don’t do as good a job as Freddie, but he’s not complaining. I’m starting to wonder if he’s ever let anyone take care of him in his life. I miss seeing him inthe morning, manning the kitchen and running everything like a tight ship.
But most of all, I miss seeing him happy. Rush too.
And I know, with Nora, we’re all happier.
I pull up to our spot, though I don’t see Nora’s car in the parking lot, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t here. There’s a whole other lot on the side that we can’t see, and we’re early. Five minutes, but still.
I get out and my brothers follow, starting their stretches, when I see her.
“Nora,” I say, my heart stopping in my chest.
She stands on the other side of the track, dressed in her black leggings and a baggy pink sweater. Our eyes meet, and everything stops. I feel Freddie and Rush beside me, tensing.
“What the hell,” Rush says as Freddie goes stiff.
“What’s she doing here?” he asks.
Nora takes two steps toward me, but I don’t let her take anymore. I sprint to her and sweep her up in my arms.
