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“Yup. And a salad.” She smiles, noting the appreciation in my eyes. “Wanna see what’s on ESBN?”
“You are the perfect woman, you know that?”
Combing her fingers through my hair, she stretches up on her toes and kisses the edge of my mouth. “I’m trying.”
* * *
NOVA
Against my better judgment, but at Devin’s insistence,“You just came back from a two-week vacation. I won’t be the reason you get fired,”I head into work the following morning. By nine, I’ve searched the internet for mentions of a virus outbreak in Salem, Oregon and verified the partial closing of a psychiatric facility. By ten, my legs bounce uncontrollably as I await a message or call from Devin letting me know he’s okay. By eleven, I’ve made a lunch date.
“Hi.” I come up behind her sitting on the empty patio, my eyes cataloging every detail of the woman who used to live with the man I’m irrevocably in love with. She’s dressed seasonably in a loose, oversized cardigan and dark-washed skinny jeans, thanks to a storm front rolling in off the ocean, keeping the sun hidden and providing Miami with a dose of mild winter weather today. It’s been a week, but I’m still thawing out from Alaska, so this feels like summer.
Tucking her cropped waves behind her ear, Palmer pushes her chair back, standing. “Hi.”
Hazel eyes scan me. Is she cataloging all our differences? Wondering why Devin chose me over her? Does she hate me?
“No.” My chin jerks up.Crap! Did I say that out loud?“I don’t hate you, Nova.”
“I wouldn’t blame you, you know. There was a moment when I hated you.” Pressing a palm against my stomach to settle my nerves, I tip my head. “A few, if I’m being honest.”
Palmer’s deep purple lips stretch into a smile. “That’s because you didn’t know what I knew.”
“And what was that?”
“That he was always going to choose you.”
I release my tension with a sigh. “I’m sorry, Palmer. I never meant for you to be hurt.”
“You think I’m hurt?” She moves closer. “Look, I won’t say I didn’t cry myself to sleep and binge on greasy potato chips for a few days, but I’m fine, Nova. I love Devin, but it’s more a brotherly love. A deep friendship. A connection with someone who’s walked through some tough days with me, type of love.”
The sky darkens, drawing our gazes up, then to the restaurant. “Want some lunch? My treat.”
Palmer nods.
“If anything, I should be apologizing to you,” Palmer says once we’re seated. “I came to Florida even though I knew he’d never love me the way he loved you. I used him as an escape and clung to him for too long. It was thoughtless.”
“You’re being too kind.” I can’t help laughing. “Can’t you yell at me for something?”
“Are you two together?”
My head bobs, though the question catches me by surprise. I sort of assumed they’d stayed in contact, which was probably silly on my part, knowing how hell-bent he was on winning me back. “He, um, he reached out on Christmas day.”
“So he waited over a month.” Palmer scoffs. “That man is infuriating.”
I fall back in my chair. “I’m sorry. I have to say you’re way more chill about this than I expected. You’re really mad at him for waiting for only a month after you two ended things to come after me?”
“Crazy, isn’t it?” She chuckles.
“Just a bit.” I join in laughing. “I had a few dates with the guy you met, Benito, but when I broke things off with him I was guilt-stricken. I knew Devin was the man I wanted to spend my life with, and still, I held back.”
Folding and unfolding her napkin, Palmer meets my gaze. “Why should we feel guilt or shame over who we fall in love with? It’s not something we control. It seems more fated or instinctual to me.”
“Perhaps.” I consider her words. I never wanted to fall for Devin Hawthorne. My feelings grew little by little as the miles flew by, and virtual strangers became friends, then more.
“Are you planning on staying in Miami? Dev said you’d gotten a job at a bar, but your real passion is photography?”
“Yeah, I worked my way through college bartending. It’s good money, especially here. Visual Arts was my major, but I don’t want to take school and family photos, you know? I’m more of a nature and travel girl. I’ll stay in Miami for a while to pad my savings. Besides, Dev’s the only real friend or family I have.”
