Total pages in book: 163
Estimated words: 164828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
“Oh God.” I drag my hand down my face. “I’m sorry, Henry. I didn’t know he was there, and I most definitely wouldn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“I know.” He smiles as his eyes hold mine.
I put my head into my hands. “This is a disaster. I didn’t know he was there, I’m so sorry. We talked that weekend, and we’ve since decided to try again.”
“I knew it.” He gives an annoyed shake of his head. “That’s fine, I understand.”
I take his hand across the table. “Thank you for understanding.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“What do you see in him?”
I smile softly. “I know how he comes across to the outside world.”
“Like a lunatic?”
“I’m not perfect, either, and this time, I know it’s going to be different between us. We are going to make it work. It's only new but I think there’s hope, you know?”
“How are you going to make it work?”
I look over and see Nathan pacing outside on the sidewalk. I smile at the beautiful rageaholic that he is before I turn my attention back to Henry.
“I’ve no idea.” I pick up my purse, take out some money, and I put it onto the table. I stand and kiss Henry’s cheek, and then I put my hand on his shoulder as I walk past him toward the door. “You’re a good friend, Henry.”
He smiles. “Good luck!” he calls. “You’re going to need it.”
I giggle to myself. That is the understatement of the year.
I walk toward the door just as Nathan bursts through, and I point to the street outside. “Out,” I mouth.
He stands still, his chest is rising and falling as he struggles for air, he looks like he’s about to explode. I walk past him and out the door. With one last warning glare at Henry, he turns and follows me.
The car is still parked in the same spot across the road where he had dropped me off…of course it is. I should have known he wouldn’t leave.
“You took too long.” He stammers as he storms to the car. “I hope you have a defibrillator in your handbag because I’m about to have a fucking heart attack, Eliza.”
I chuckle as I walk across the road. This man kills me.
“This isn’t funny.” He growls.
I try to open the car door but it’s still locked. “Open the door, Nathan.”
He opens the door and we both climb in. I look over at his poor, tortured face.
I’ve put this poor bastard through hell. “Take me home.”
He starts the car.
“To my place.”
He stops what he’s doing and glares at me. “Oh, so you are going to carry on about this?”
“No, I’m going to get some clothes to bring to your house, you moron.”
He watches me as if scared I’m about to run. I guess the old me would have.
“I understand why tonight bothered you.” I lean over and kiss him. “I never have to see Henry again. I get it, and it’s over now.”
He frowns, as if surprised. “You do and it is?”
“Yeah.” I smile as I run my hand over his two-day growth. “You know what, Nathe? We have to stop carrying on like idiots and start talking to each other. If this is it for us—and we both know that it is—and we want to plan a future together, we won’t make it unless we communicate better and grow the fuck up. No more tantrums, no more leaving, no more jealousy, no more spying on people in restaurants.”
His face falls.
“Yes, I know about you in New York. No more secrets, and no more fucking bullshit, Nathan.”
He smiles softly, as if he’s hopeful, too.
“Do we have chocolate at home?” I ask.
“No.”
“Well, you better stop at the store then.” I sit back and pull my seatbelt over my shoulder casually as if I have this conversation every day. “Hadn’t you?”
He stares at me for a moment, and then a slow, sexy smile crosses his face. “I love you, Eliza.”
“I know.” I smile as I pick up his hand and kiss the back of it before cupping it around my face. “And I love you.”
We did it. We got through an argument like adults.
He pulls out into the traffic and I smile as I look out of the window. And just like that, I feel the tectonic plates slide into place. The bullshit between us is over.
We can finally start afresh and look at each other through untainted glasses.
We love each other so much. We have put each other through so much.
And for what?
The games end now.
* * *
I walk out of the elevator like I’m a rock star. I’m at Nathan’s office, and after our little fight last night—or should I say, lack of fight?—I have a spring in my step.
I have hope for us. Actually, that’s not even true. I don’t have hope. I know. The time apart wasn’t for nothing. It did us both good.