Page 26

Yeah. All the things.

And I’m a little embarrassed at my behavior, if for no other reason than it revealed that I do have some kind of feelings about Noble being here.

I know all about grace and forgiveness, but they aren’t things I hand out like candy at a parade. I’m pretty sure that says something about me, and I’m not proud of it. If I’ve really moved on, I should at least be able to be nice.

Do better, Hattie.

“It’s not about the pact, is it?”

I blow out a breath. “It was a dumb thing to make you do, that’s all.”

He winces. “I think they thought they were being protective. Because they care.”

“You and I were only ever friends.” I try to play it cool, like we’re both in agreement on this. “That’s all we were ever going to be.”

He studies me, and in the silence, I start to notice things. The crickets in the trees. The sound of the water in the distance.

“We know that,” he says.

The tinge of disappointment at the corner of my mind slaps at me. I’m a poster child for wanting it both ways.

“But you know your brothers.” He shifts the weight of his duffle bag and captures my gaze. “I’m sure they know now they’ve got nothing to worry about.”

Right.

“Show me around?” he asks, turning toward the door. “I want to see what you did with this old place.”

“Right, yep.” We walk inside the renovated hunting lodge, and I hang my bag on a hook by the door.

“You live here now?” he asks.

I nod. “I gave up my apartment a few months into renovations and moved into the chaos. It was silly to keep paying for another place when half the time I was crashing out here anyway.”

He looks around. “It’s awful big for one person. Don’t you get lonely?” His eyes land on me. It feels like he’s testing the waters.

I remind myself that I feel like a jerk when I’m rude. It’s not who I am. But I feign nonchalance because there are some things I’m not willing to admit. Not out loud. Not to him. “If it were up to my brothers, apparently I’d live in a convent.”

“Ha, yeah,” he says. “I see how overprotective brothers could put a damper on your love life.”

I squint at him, looking to change the topic of this conversation immediately. “What about the great Noble Kane? I doubt you’re spending much time alone. Everyone knows all about your female fan club. What do they call themselves?”

He pulls a face. “Don’t make me say it.”

I tilt my head at him.

He sighs. “The Sugar Kanes.”

We both pause. I push my lips together to stifle a laugh.

“I didn’t come up with it.”

I quickly respond with, “Oh, I’m sure you didn’t.”

He shoots me a look. “Yeah, well, being surrounded by a bunch of people doesn’t cure loneliness either. Sometimes it makes it worse.”

I study him for a moment, and for the first time, I see that there’s sadness behind his eyes, and I can’t help it—I want to find a way to make it go away.

See? This is why I need to stay mad. Because if I start being nice, and he keeps being nice, I’m going to fall right back into that pesky old habit of loving him.