Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 15387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 77(@200wpm)___ 62(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 77(@200wpm)___ 62(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
I open the door, but she runs around and reaches out to push it close. “What the hell is your problem?”
“I know what he’s doing.” Her face is red, nostrils flaring. “I know he’s trying to make me jealous, and I don’t want to admit it but it works. Tell him it works. I’m jealous, so you can leave now.”
It feels like someone slapped me. “W-what?”
“Oh, you don’t know? You’re probably new here so let me tell you. Noah and I were engaged a few years ago, but I left town to follow my dreams. I regretted it, so I came back. I came back for him. I knew he wouldn’t make it easy, but using you to make me jealous is pathetic and desperate.”
Blood roars in my ears, and my mouth goes dry. It’s getting increasingly hard to swallow my own saliva, like someone rubbed sandpaper in my throat. Is this true? I haven’t been here long enough for Noah and me to talk about our lives, including our past.
Everything dulls into a muted roar. The only sound I can hear is my rapid heartbeat.
My hands shake as I buckle my seatbelt, and it takes me a couple of tries before it locks. Allison is still outside my window, yelling I don’t know what. But when I turn on the engine, she backs out, hands on her hips.
Thank God for small towns because I don’t see any other soul on the road. I’m going way below the speed limit, and the pounding on the base of my head tells me I’m about to have a massive headache. I can’t take it anymore so I pull over to the side and shift the gear into park, turning on my hazard lights.
The weight of Allison’s words settles heavily on me, crushing me, making my chest tighten with a throbbing ache. A whirlwind of emotions rage within me—anger, denial, betrayal, disbelief.
I try to make sense of the situation, but I can’t.
Truth is, Noah and I barely know each other. But something feels right between us. Like we belong together.
God, what is this? I come here to heal, but all I get is a broken heart.
And the worst part is, I can never confront him. All my things are in his bedroom, and I can’t waltz in and pretend I didn’t just meet his ex or current. Whatever.
This has always been my problem, at least according to Keith. I take things at face value and accept them because I’m too scared of confrontation. Whenever I think about coming face-to-face with someone, I get a slimy feeling in my gut that makes me want to throw up.
With a deep breath, I continue driving. The building comes into view, and I’m beginning to feel nauseous.
Noah is inside, waiting for me. Is he waiting for Allison too? Is she already there? Do I pack my bags and head out? What will I say if he asks?
I stop the truck and take a calming breath. I can do this. Something tells me last night and this morning were real for both of us. That it’s not his way to pass the time or make Allison jealous.
But I’ll never know unless I talk to him. Unless I ask him outright.
My palms are slick with sweat, and the Bronco suddenly feels too small, like it’s closing in on me. Every thought, every emotion swirls together.
What if I mess up this one chance at a happy ending? But what if Allison’s telling the truth?
Stop it, Nora. Stop! Talk to him. Ask him. Tell him what Allison said.
I don’t know how long I sit here, but I jump at the sharp rap on the window.
Noah is outside, his handsome face etched with worry, forehead creased with lines. I unlock the doors, and he opens it, one hand braced above me. “Nora? What are you doing here?”
Whatever I say next will determine what happens between us.
“I met Allison.”
He tilts his head to the side, his expression slack. “Who?”
I swallow past the lump in my throat, my tongue heavy. “Allison.”
Noah continues to hold my gaze as he pokes his tongue into his cheek. “I don’t know who you mean.”
“Your ex.”
There I said it. No going back now.
“Baby, I don’t have an ex.”
“B-but…”
“What does she look like?”
I blink and try to remember. “Short, blonde hair like a bob. Taller than me. Green eyes, I think.”
“Ah.”
“You know her?” My hands tighten on the steering wheel, and he raises a brow.
“I do. So does your brother.”
Noah reaches over and peels my fingers before intertwining them with his. “Let’s go get you inside. I think you have lots of things to say.”
I pout and follow him like a petulant child. He grabs all the bags with one hand while he holds me with the other.
We reach upstairs, and I slump on the bar stool while he puts everything away. Alvin is lying on one of the overhead cabinets, licking his paw and paying us no attention.