AllFreeNovel
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“Never know when you need to do some home improvements.”
Despite the tension, our easy banter is there just below the surface.
“You get your things?” I ask.
“Yes, thanks. I needed my art supplies.”
Her art supplies. Not her clothes.
It feels less like a dagger.
“I’m doing these portraits on commission for an upcoming movie premiere. It came up the night of the party.”
I glance up, surprised. “You never told me.”
Because of our argument or because she didn’t feel like she could talk to me about the good things going on?
The wound clean, I cover it with a Band-Aid.
“I tried to call you,” she says. “About Coach.”
“I had my phone off for the plane ride.”
“Oh.” She tries to pull away, but I don’t release her hand.
She can’t be jealous. Not the free-spirited woman who could charm a room with an easy smile.
“You said you wanted a break,” I remind her.
“I didn’t know it would be so easy for you.”
The tightness in my gut springs up. “You have no idea how it’s been for me.”
“Which is the point,” she murmurs as she pulls away. “You haven’t talked in months.”
I exhale hard and seriously consider grabbing her hand again if only to force her to look at me. “Coach’s niece called me before you did. I got on a plane and met her at the hospital. She wanted to thank me in person for helping.”
“His niece,” she echoes, brows lifting.
“You think I was waiting for you to leave so I could hook up with another woman.”
“It’s not funny.”
It is in my head.
I haven’t so much as looked at another woman with interest since I met her. She’s it for me.
So how the hell did we get here?
“Nova…”
“Wait.” She interrupts. “How did you help Coach?”
“His insurance expired a while ago, but he stuck with me. I was going to stick with him.”
Her lips part, eyes widening with compassion and other emotions I want to name but can’t.
“I know you don’t like to talk about your feelings. But you need to try. If you don’t, you’ll lose more than you already have.” She clears her throat. “About the break…”
