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upright. I’m going to have to fix this before my mom comes to visit again. She would be heartbroken if she saw it like this.

“I know,” I reply to Hardin’s silent reproach. I’m going to find out who he is and whether Nora really believes that he was just looking for his friend.

Hardin gripes at me while sweeping the rest of the broken glass into the dustpan. Just before I open my bedroom door, his voice trails down my hallway: “Don’t tell Tessa about this. There’s enough going on.”

I let him assume my silence means that I’m agreeing with him and step into my bedroom. Nora is sitting on my bed, still wearing my clothes. I push my back against the door and wait for it to click shut. To be safe, I lock the door behind me and stride toward her. Her phone is in her hand, and when she looks at me, her eyes stare into mine but they don’t connect. She’s withdrawn already.

I keep my voice timid. “You know we have to talk about who that guy is.”

Nora looks down and shifts, pulling her legs beneath her body. “Do we?”

I’m not letting her shoot this down. “Yes. We do.”

I walk over to the bed, sit down next to her, and listen for sounds from the living room. It’s quiet. Hardin either left or is being nosy, listening to our conversation from the hall, just like this Cliff guy.

“Is he your ex-boyfriend?”

Her body jerks at my question, and she shakes her head. “No. No, he’s not.”

I scoot closer to her and take her hands in mine. “Then who is he? This isn’t a small thing, Nora.” I gently squeeze her hands. “The guy was listening at my door. Do you know him well enough to believe that this is all a big misunderstanding? Truly?” I look into her eyes and wordlessly beg her for the truth.

I would like to believe that the last hour we’ve spent together has taken us to a new level of trust. I need her to trust me enough to be honest with me about this. The voice in my head is shouting doubt at her, but my mouth stays silent.

“Yes” is all she says.

I scratch my hand over the stubble on my chin, and she stands up from my bed. “Where are you going?”

She reaches the door before she responds. “I’m going to go grab my work clothes and come back. I have to work early in the morning.”

I move off my bed, but I stay across the room from her. “I’ll come with you.”

Nora shakes her head. “I’ll come back. I promise. I’ll be back, and I’ll stay the night with you. In your bed.” Her voice is shaky, uncertain.

She walks back to me and reaches for my hands. I pull her into me.

“I will come back.” Nora presses her lips to mine. I kiss her back, wrapping my arms around her as she melts into me.

I stay quiet, and her tongue feels so good on mine. I love the way she kisses me: slowly and thoroughly, full of cautious passion. Her fingers bury themselves in the fabric of my T-shirt.

After a few seconds, she pulls away from my embrace. “I’ll be back in a little while.” She kisses my cheek. “I’ll hurry.” Her words sound so certain.

I feel as if I’m in a trance. I nod and drop my arms to my side. “Your clothes are in the kitchen,” I remind her.

Heat fills my cheeks, and she pulls her bottom lip between her teeth.

“I’ll change in the bathroom.” Nora eyes me. “You don’t like these on me?” A gleam of mischief is sparkling in her eyes.

“I like them a little too much.”

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