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He gently lays a hand on my shoulder, and I back away, raising my hand to push his arm off of me. The action startles him.
“What the hell, Will? You should have told me you were engaged to be married.”
He runs his hand up his jaw and up into his hair. “You’re right. I should have. It didn’t come up. I just … we were having a good time and talking. I don’t know why it didn’t come up.”
“I’ve been racking my brain, trying to think about what I did and didn’t say that night, and I keep coming back to the fact that you were flirting with me. I know it. And that dance. It was … I never would have thrown myself at you if I hadn’t felt that attraction.”
“I’m sorry if I gave the wrong impression.”
“You kissed me back. You cheated on your fiancée when you kissed me back, and it’s made me feel terrible. For the first time, I’m the other woman, and it’s a horrible position to be in. Because I liked you, Will. I liked you so much, and I didn’t want to like someone. I wasn’t ready, but you just swooped in, and then you brought me to the lowest place I could ever be. I know what it’s like to be on the other side of that heartache, to have someone you love be with someone else. So, yeah, you might want to talk, but there’s nothing—absolutely nothing—you can say that would make me feel any less like scum.”
“Melissa, please—”
“Stop. No pleading. If you’re worried I’ll tell Allison what happened, I won’t. I threw myself at you. You pushed me away. That’s all that matters.”
I try to pass him again, but he lays his arm on the car, creating a blockade. It forces me to look up at him—really look at him and that soul-searing gaze. If I had thought he wasn’t affected by what was going on, I was wrong. Just one glance, and I can see he’s been going through hell—dark circles under his eyes, frown lines around his mouth, and a pout that weakens his smolder.
I cross my arms in front of my chest and tilt my head at him, begging for him to say something to make this right.
“I kissed you back,” he whispers, and it screams down to my toes.
“You shouldn’t have.”
“I know,” he breathes.
My chest caves with this horrible feeling of jealousy, sadness, disappointment, and elation. It’s a feeling I can’t explain. I weave my body around his.
He doesn’t follow me. His head is still down, hand on the roof, look of defeat shadowed on his profile, as I open my door.
“Thank you for your help with our bags, Officer Bronson.”
I’m in the car, and I close the door as quickly as possible. Will steps to the side so I can back out of the parking spot. I try not to look at him as I drive past him. If I do, I might crumble.
“I like him,” Izzy says as we exit the Target parking lot.
Great. The first time my daughter shows interest in anything in months, and it’s in the man I’m dying not to be interested in.
seven
“I CAN’T BELIEVE WEfinally have our own office space!” I gush as I walk through the modest three-room office suite we are renting in Greenwood Village.
Yes, it’s the same town as Maisie’s salon and Tyler’s house, but we carefully chose a location on the opposite side of town to avoid them as much as possible. It makes sense because it’s close to where Jillian lives and the clientele in this area is who we’re attracting.
The office is on the second floor of a three-story building, just above a wedding dress boutique. I glance out the window and down at Main Street, which is lit with gas lanterns and has cobblestone walkways.
I fell in love with this town the first time Tyler and I drove through. It’s why we bought our home here. It’s the smallest house in the neighborhood. but we chose quality over quantity. Living in this town was more important than purchasing any large, center hall Colonial we could afford in Newbury, the town where we grew up and where I’m currently living. It’s funny how things work out.
“Our lease doesn’t technically start until next week, but the last tenant moved out early. All we have to do is pick out colors, and I have a painter lined up to get it completed over the weekend.”
She holds up some swatches, and we giggle.
We’re sharing the smaller single office and using the other office as a storage room. The front main room, where you walk in, will mostly be prep space with a table to the side for meeting with clients since it’s the largest room.
“I like the cream colors. It’ll brighten up the room and make it feel larger,” I suggest.
“What do you think of doing some textured walls, using wood slats? It’ll give some character and help us define the creation stations from the meeting area.”
“My father would love to do that for us. I’ll see if he can get the pieces cut before the painters come. Maybe add some shiplap in the bathroom and kitchen area. It’s small, but we can brighten it up.”
