"Fucking love, hey?” He says with a laugh.
"I offered her a place to stay. Here."
His eyes drift past me to something on the security monitormounted on the wall. His expression changes—shifts from thoughtful to startled, like he's seen a ghost.
"Well shit," he breathes.
"What?"
"She might have just taken you up on that offer." He points at the screen behind me. “Is that her coming up the driveway?”
"You're funny."
"I'm not trying to be."
I turn to look at the monitor and my heart stops.
Well fuck me, he's right. It is her.
Nora is walking up the gravel drive toward the studio entrance and she's carrying a small duffle bag.
My pulse spikes.
"Didn't think this one through real well, did you?" Julian laughs.
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?”
“Not for another few hours.” He smirks. “Seriously though, what are you gonna do?"
"I have no fucking idea."
Julian stands, moving toward the door.
"Well, you better figure it out fast because she's about thirty seconds from the entrance."
He pauses in the doorway, looks back at me with something like awe mixed with concern.
"The universe works fast, huh?"
"Apparently," I manage.
He grins despite everything. "Good luck, man."
Then he's gone, slipping out the back way to give me space, and I'm alone watching Nora get closer on the monitor.
I stand slowly.
My heart is pounding. My hands are unsteady.
I take a breath and head for the door.
Time to find out if sitting with discomfort is actually wisdom or just another way to fuck with your already fragile heart.
CHAPTER 18
THE CABIN
NORA
