Page 26 of Nothing At All

“Hooking up is not a relationship.” Vic jerked a thumb in my direction. “He’s relationship material.”

I lifted a hand. “I’m standing right here.”

Vic studied my face. “What’s her style?”

I went blank. I mean, I noticed her clothes, but really I noticed her smile, her expressions, the tone of her voice. “She’s just . . . Lila.”

“Okay.” Vic pointed toward the store. “Go in there and look. See if anything is just Lila. If it’s not, don’t buy anything just to be buying. There are other stores. And don’t go extravagant. Y’all are only dating, and too much is just weird.”

“Sounds like the voice of experience,” Josh muttered.

“You have no idea.” Wry amusement colored Vic’s voice. “I attract all the red flags.”

“Considering you’re sleeping with Santillan, I’d believe it . . .”

Josh’s voice faded behind me as the door to Hodges swung shut behind me with a quiet swish. Glass cases stretched along either side of the store, full of sparkle and shine. I peeked in the first one and took a step back. Engagement rings and wedding bands.

Yeah, not yet.

“Hey, welcome to Hodges.” The woman with short silver hair smiled at me from the case at the back where the register stood. “I’m Helen. Let me know if I can help you or if you want to see anything.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I edged a few steps down, leaning over to examine a spread of earrings. A pair of small hoops, a tapered curve of gold shone under the lights. I circled a finger over the case. “Could I see these, please?”

Smiling, Helen glided over to unlock the sliding door and retrieve the earrings. “These are very nice. Pretty. Classic.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I held the velvet stand, turning it side to side to watch how they glimmered with a subtle glow.

She’d like them. I knew it, deep inside, the same way I knew I wanted to meet Lila at first glance. By the end of the night we met, I knew I wanted to spend more time with her.

Then when I had, I’d gotten in deeper. I liked her – she was smart and funny, honest and straightforward. Fun to be with, patient with me while I navigated the parts of us I didn’t know. And I was pretty sure like had deepened to love.

Strong affection at least.

“I’ll take them.” I passed them over and followed Helen to the register.

“There’s a presentation box that comes with them.” Helen retrieved the dark blue velvet box and nestled the white velvet stand inside after removing the tag. “Do you need this gift wrapped?”

“No, ma’am.” Somehow that would be too much. But I could take her for dinner, somewhere nice.

With the little box tucked in my pocket, I drove home. Like I’d been doing for days, I scanned Nicole’s backyard as I swung out of the car. I walked down the sidewalk to check the side yard. All clear, as it had been for days.

As I returned to the driveway, Nicole barrelled out of the side door. “You’re late today.”

I bristled, but kept my face impassive. “You’re all clear.”

Frustration tightened her features. “Did you block me?”

Feet planted, I didn’t shift my stance. “Yeah.”

Her mouth worked, a small tremble, before her lips thinned together. A glimmer of hurt shone in her eyes before she blinked it away. A hint of sympathy curled through me, but not enough to open a boundary Lila needed. I could ignore her selfies and texts, but if they bothered Lila?

Gone.

Nicole’s shoulders slumped. “Okay.”

I didn’t want to be a complete asshole. Just a partial one with good boundaries.

“Look.” I cleared my throat, uncomfortable with her standing there like a defeated puppy someone had kicked one too many times. “I get you’re interested.”