Flirting with Forever: A Hot Romantic Comedy(87)

His voice was low. “I was in a similar position and I also didn’t give Everly a chance to explain. At first.” He held up a finger. “Once I realized what I’d done, I did everything I could to make things right.”

My shoulders slumped. “So what do I do?”

“Calling her back might be a good start,” Cox said.

He was right, I needed to talk to her. But not on the phone. And I didn’t just need to talk, I needed to show her that I was sorry. Show her I’d do anything to make things up to her.

Show her I loved her.

Because, damn it, I did love her. That was why I’d overreacted. It wasn’t an excuse—I’d screwed up and it was up to me to make it right. But if I hadn’t loved her I wouldn’t have cared.

I did love her. I loved the hell out of that fierce, confident, beautiful woman. I didn’t know if she’d forgive me but I had to try.

My back straightened, resolve pouring through me. I knew what I had to do.

I just hoped it would work.





36





NORA





Retail therapy wasn’t helping.

I wandered through the store, idly brushing past the displays of summer clothing. A lavender floral dress caught my eye. It would look adorable on Riley.

After the incident at her school, I’d decided not to go home. Maybe I was the one walking away from the conflict this time but the visit to the principal’s office had rattled me. I needed a little time to clear my head—to process what had happened.

I didn’t want to make it all about me. Riley had been dealing with more than I’d realized—even more than she’d shared with me or her dad. And I was so proud of her. Not for slapping Katie, but for standing up for that poor girl being bullied. Riley hadn’t let her experiences on the bad end of a mean girl situation close her off. Quite the opposite. It had opened her up to see someone else’s struggle and she’d acted to help.

But I couldn’t get over how natural it had felt to be there. To walk into that principal’s office with Dex. To ask questions and voice my opinion.

Why had I done that? Who was I to Dex and Riley? Dex’s neighbor? His girlfriend? I wasn’t Riley’s mother and really, there had been no reason for me to be there. I didn’t belong.

And yet, I hadn’t thought twice about going when Riley had texted to let me know she was in trouble and they were calling her dad.

I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror as I wandered deeper into the store. Oh my god, what was I wearing? I rolled my eyes. I’d put on a t-shirt with a mismatched cardigan, jeans, and my running shoes. My ponytail was drooping and I hadn’t bothered with makeup. I was a mess.

I thanked the sales associate and left, heading out into the rain. Buying a new outfit wasn’t going to make me feel better. And I’d just quit my job, so needless spending wasn’t a good idea anyway.

It had gone from cloudy to pouring rain. I didn’t bother trying to shield my hair from the downpour. I was a mess already, so what did it matter?

I got into my Jeep and five minutes later, the rain stopped. Because of course it did. I drove home, wondering what I should do. I didn’t want to call Dex again. The ball was in his court now. Although I did want to know if Riley was okay. I resolved to text her when I got home.

Dex’s car was in his driveway. For a second, the clouds parted, bathing our houses in sunlight. The flowers he’d planted looked unnaturally bright and colorful, but the sight of them stung. This was why I’d avoided relationships for so long. This feeling. The hurt and disappointment. Granted, this wasn’t nearly as traumatic as being confronted by a woman who’d hired a private investigator and finding out your entire life was a lie.

This was different. It was a quieter hurt. Dex thought I was capable of writing that article, that I saw him as something to be used for my pleasure and that I saw his daughter as a means to that end.

I got out of my car and went inside, feeling restless. I sent Riley a text, asking her if she was all right and to check in with me when she could. Then I peeled off my damp cardigan, tossed it onto the back of the couch, and wandered into the kitchen.

Everly’s box of pink hair chalk was still on the counter. After the club, we’d come here and gorged on cold pizza and ice cream. My friends had let me pout for a while. And I loved them for that.

Maybe I needed more pizza.

I went to the fridge to see if there was any left—Sophie’s craving had been intense—but a muffled noise outside caught my attention. It sounded like music. Once in a while a car would drive by with music blaring but it came and went. This wasn’t stopping.

There was one piece of pizza left, so I ignored the noise—it was probably just someone parked outside one of my neighbor’s houses. Either that or Phil had taken to doing his shake weight workout on his front lawn.

That was something I didn’t need to see.

My phone buzzed with a text. I abandoned the pizza, dropping the cold slice on the counter, and practically ran to my phone. Which was so dumb. I had more dignity than that. I was Nora Lakes and I wasn’t going to let some man get to me like this.

Who was I kidding. Yes I was.

Because I was in love with him.

That thought hit me so hard and so fast, I froze. My eyes widened and my heart seemed to skip a few beats, leaving me slightly breathless.