“I want him,” I say, louder this time.
“Then stop running from him. Stop hiding. If you want him, then talk to him. Straighten all of this out. Then you can both stop being miserable.”
Honor lets out a little scream and then giggles, and Lottie laughs.
“See, even Honor says that I’m right. Now, go get your man.”
“And if things don’t go well?” I ask her.
“Then you come here, and we eat ice cream and pizza until we can’t feel anything but a stomachache.”
“Deal,” I say with a smile.
“I’ve got to go, but call me if you need anything.”
“I will. Love you, Lottie.”
“Love you more, Goldie.”
We hang up, and I finish getting dressed. My mind is running a million miles an hour as I pace around my living room.
Lottie makes it sound so simple and easy, but it’s not to me. Opening myself up to someone else, placing my trust and my heart in their hands, is terrifying.
I need to be strong. I need to take this leap of faith because I don’t know how I can go on without Adrien in my life.
Doubt tugs at me. Can I? Should I trust him? Or will he just break my heart all over again?
There’s only one way to find out.
EIGHTEEN
Adrien
I finally gotthrough to Lottie, but she gave me more questions than answers. She had no idea that Goldie and I were seeing each other. I can’t deny that it hurt to hear that Goldie hadn’t told her closest friend about the two of us.
Then I started wondering why she didn’t tell her best friend about us. Why would she do that?
I think I have a hunch, but I need to talk with Goldie to see if I’m right. That’s why I’m skipping work again today and headed over to Goldie’s apartment building.
“Should I wait, Sir?” Patrick asks me as he pulls up outside of her building.
“Um…no. I’ll text you when I’m ready to leave.”
“Good luck,” he says, and I smile.
“Thanks. I think that I’m going to need it.”
I close the door and head inside. I take the stairs instead of the elevator, using the extra time to rehearse my speech.
Now I just need to get her to open the door and somehow convince her to hear me out.
I don’t have high hopes. I spent close to two hours yesterday knocking on her door and pleading for her to open the door for me, but she never did. I had started to wonder if she was even home, but when I went downstairs, I saw her car parked in the parking lot.
So, I left and tried to call Lottie. I had to call Levi to get her phone number, and I know that I owe him a favor for doing that for me.
I called Lottie an alarming amount before she finally picked up. The conversation didn’t really help, but I don’t care. I’m not giving up on Goldie or us. We’re meant to be. I’m sure of it.
I walk down the hallway to her apartment door and take a deep breath. Then I send up a silent prayer to whoever is listening that she gives me a chance today.