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28
Nora
“I’m going to get Hollin over to talk to you, Nora,” my dad said, following me around the house.
I grabbed my heels. I needed to go back to West’s house to get more clothes. I’d been too exhausted and emotional to pay attention to what I was stuffing into my suitcase. I needed more work clothes. And I needed to get out of my dad’s house.
“Don’t you dare,” I snapped, whirling on him.
“Well, you aren’t listening to me.”
“I’m not ready to talk about it. I’m not ready to deal with anything,” I told him. I waved at my face. “Please, I can’t cry before I go to work. I don’t have time to redo my makeup.”
My dad deflated. He absentmindedly rapped his cane against the baseboard. “I’m worried about you. You show up at home in the middle of the night, sobbing. I need to know how to help.”
“You can’t help, Dad. I wish you could. I wish anyone could. But I promise that Hollin would only make it worse.”
“I can’t see how.”
Yeah, that was because he didn’t know what it was like to have overprotective brothers. Hollin would blow a gasket. He’d fly to LA and put his fist through Weston’s face himself. Or worse, call Campbell and have him do it. I didn’t want that to happen to West. I loved him too much to ruin his big break.
He’d been on Jimmy Kimmel on Friday night. I’d watched with my dad and even managed to keep it together until the interview was over. To pretend to be excited to see Cosmere on TV. West was getting everything he wanted. Good for him.
“I love you, Dad.” I kissed him back. “I’ll see you after work.”
“Love you, too. But how long are you planning to stay?”
“Trying to get rid of me?”
“Of course not. You can stay as long as you want, Nor. I’m concerned.”
“I’ll start looking for my own place.”
“I’m not kicking you out,” he said quickly. “I like having you here. I want to help.”
But he couldn’t.
So, I smiled wanly and headed out to my truck. I was not looking forward to going back to West’s for clothes. If I had a friend, I could probably convince them to go with me, but who did I have?
I bit my lip.
Hmm…
I bet I did have someone who would do that with me. I pulled up Eve’s number and dialed, connecting it to the Bluetooth in my truck.
“Hey,” Eve said. “What’s going on?”
“What are you doing tonight?”
“I have to show three houses and walk a couple through closing,” she said. “Why? Are you asking me out?”
I choked. “Uh, not exactly. I was wondering if you could help me with something.”
“Something that isn’t a date?” Eve teased.
“More like detoxing from a man.”
“Oh, count me in. What are we doing? Burning sage? Arranging crystals? Calling a demon?”
“Um, wow. That escalated quickly.”
“I’ve done this a time or two before.”
I giggled, and it felt good. “You’ve frequently called a demon?”
“Don’t knock it till you try it.”
“I’ll take your word for it. But, no, I need to get clothes from West’s place, but I don’t want to go in alone.”
Eve sighed softly. “I heard that he went back to LA. He dump you?”
“Pretty much.”
“And he kicked you out of his place? What a dick. I mean, Arnold Sinclair had me evicted. So, what do I know about men? But damn.”
“No, he didn’t kick me out,” I told her as I pulled into the vineyard. “But I can’t stay there, you know?”
“I got you, girl. I’ll make time in between my appointments. Text me when you’re heading that way. I’ll make it work.”
“Thanks, Eve,” I said truthfully.
