I heard her shut the door and turn the lock. “Alright then, let’s get you back to bed.”

“I don’t need your help, Nora. Just leave me alone.”

I walked back in my bedroom and sat down on the mattress, hoping she’d leave. If she didn’t leave, I’d have to. Hell, she probably had a date tonight anyway, and with the thought of that, I picked up the Lagavulin bottle on the nightstand and took a swig.

She walked in, frowning at me. “I guess I can’t say anything about the drinking. Been there, done that,” she said, watching me set the bottle back down.

“I’m old enough to drink. You’re not.”

Her lips tightened, and she looked away from me. Yeah, I knew that barb hurt her. Maybe I wanted to hurt her. Maybe it would make her leave.

I lay down on my stomach and closed my eyes, and even though she was near, my body relaxed and dark oblivion beckoned me.

She sat down, and I opened my eyes to half-mast. “Nora, what are you doing?” I said, slurring. “I’m fine, go home.”

“But what if you get sick?” she said.

I rolled over and grabbed her. “Leo!” she yelped as I pulled her down until she was lying across my chest. When I caught the scent of peaches, I pressed my nose in her hair and groaned.

“Are you sniffing my hair?” She leaned back to look at me.

I stared at her mouth. “No.”

“Liar.”

I soaked in her face, her eyes, those red lips. “I know what love is,” I said.

“You believe in love all of a sudden?”

“I never said I didn’t,” I muttered.

“Just not for yourself, right?”

“Raising Sebastian, starting and running my business,” I said. “Guess I never had time for it.”

“And you do now?”

I didn’t answer.

“Are you in love with Tiffani?” she asked.

I sighed heavily.

“Leo, are you in love with Tiffani?” she repeated, her voice sounding small and scared.

I scowled at her. “Are you in love with Drew?”

“Drew is special, yes. We’re probably going to UT together.”

I pushed her off me and rolled back to my stomach, hating the words that had come out of her mouth. “Bring me a trash can in case I need it,” I mumbled, hoping this conversation was over.

She didn’t move for the longest time, but she finally got up and brought the trash, putting it next to the bed. She stroked her hands through my hair, and I pulled away.

“There’s some pictures Teddy took. I want you to have them. Take them out of here,” I muttered. “They’re over on the dresser.”

She went over to the dresser and let out a small gasp as she looked through them, reminding me of what they showed.

It hurt, knowing she’d found someone. I ached to be alone with my pain.

It was all my fault though. I deserved the misery I had. She’d practically told me she loved me weeks ago, and I couldn’t run away fast enough.

Now it was too late.

“Get the fuck out of here, Nora.”

“What?”

“You heard me. Get. The. Fuck. Out,” I spat, my heart hating the cruel words I used on her but needing the distance, needing a reprieve from the hollow feelings I got whenever I thought about her and Drew.

She let out a whimper.

“Please,” I begged.

“I can’t forget the words you’ve never said.”

–Nora Blakely

DREW HAD BEEN on his way over when Sebastian called me, so before I’d gone to the gym, I’d texted Drew and told him what was going on. He was standing at the shop’s door as I walked up.

“He’s drunk,” I said shakily.

“What happened over there? Did he hurt you?” he scowled.

I swallowed. “No, nothing like that. He told me—no, he ordered me to get out. He didn’t want me around,” I said, not meeting his eyes.

He narrowed his eyes at me and then sighed, like he was sad. “Shit, Leo’s the one you want?”

I opened my mouth to say something, but he cut me off.

“No, wait, let me say this. When something hurts this bad, Nora, you need to fucking let it go. Let him go.”

“I know. I’m trying,” I whispered.

“And I’m not giving up on us. I want you as mine,” he said, walking over to me. He tipped my face up to look at him.

The air thickened with tension, and I sensed somehow things had suddenly changed between us. “Why?” I whispered.

He pulled me against him. “Because I see who you are now. And I’d walk over hot coals to make you love me,” he said, lowering his head. He kissed me hard and deep and for the first time since we’d gotten reacquainted, I felt real heat bloom inside me.

He murmured my name and tugged me closer, his hands pressing on the small of my back until I could feel his erection. I rubbed myself against him, making him groan.

“Fuck. Are you ready to take us further, Nora?” he whispered, kissing my neck.

“Yes.”

“I’m dying to make love to you again,” he said into my shoulder, his lips going lower and lower.

“Yes, soon,” I promised as I pulled his face up to me and gazed into his hazel eyes, liking what I saw. In the past few weeks, we’d grown close and although I hadn’t told him about Finn, I had considered it. The thought of one more person knowing terrified me, but I had to learn to be true to myself. If he cared about me, then my past wouldn’t matter.

He grinned his crooked smile and picked me up and swung me around until I squealed. When he sat me down, we were both breathless.

“Kiss me again,” I said.

Like a kite string that’s been broken by a strong, sudden wind, I felt the tenuous hold I’d been keeping for Leo in my heart finally snap. He was gone, drifting away somewhere out there, destined to belong to someone else.

A FEW NIGHTS later, I met Drew and Sebastian and Mila at one of my favorite locally owned bookstores. It was within walking distance from the shop, and with its regular signings and readings, it was a hangout for college-age kids and hipsters. It had three levels, which included a basement area that held out-of-date college textbooks and discounted books. After we’d gotten a table and purchased some lattes from the café, we settled in at table to read and people watch.