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Finding my book, I shoved it in my backpack and headed downstairs. Feeling guilty about ignoring Alex, I hit her number and called her.
“Hey, Grace,” Alex said softly over the phone. “I wasn’t trying to hurt you by giving Noah your number. It’s just . . . well . . . he seemed so desperate to talk to you. He was practically begging me. I really think you need to talk to him.”
Opening the refrigerator, I let out a fake laugh. “Maybe she sucks in bed and he wants out of the marriage.”
Alex sighed loudly through the phone. “Grace, please don’t go on the date tonight until you talk to Noah. Please listen to your heart.”
Closing my eyes, I nodded my head as I whispered, “Alex, it’s been two weeks and he hasn’t called.” Taking in a deep breath, I decided I needed to be honest with Alex and myself. “It’s just . . . Alex, I’m so afraid to talk to him. My feelings for him . . . they’re still so strong even knowing he’s married. What if he wants . . . I mean what if I—I’m not that girl, Alex. I won’t be with a married man.”
Alex sighed. “I know you wouldn’t and you don’t have to be. Listen, just talk to him when he calls, Grace. I don’t think Doug is truly who you want to move on with, but I understand your thinking behind that.”
Grabbing my upper lip with my teeth, I bit down hard and nodded my head as I looked at the time on the microwave. “Hey, I’ve got to go. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Grace?”
“Yeah?” I asked as I put my backpack over my shoulder.
“Don’t go tonight,” Alex whispered.
I knew this wasn’t a healthy way to live. Sitting around moping about a man whose lips I’d never feel on mine again. I also knew I didn’t really want to have a mindless one-night-stand with Doug. “Great minds think alike, Alex. Doug isn’t who I want to be with. I’ve got to run. See ya later. Love you.”
“Love you too, sweets!”
I quickly sent Doug a text telling him something important had come up and I couldn’t make tonight. I prayed like hell he didn’t call me back and just took the rejection and moved on. Grabbing my keys, I dashed out the front door, cursing myself for being late to class. I was already so far behind in all my classes. Turning, I pulled the front door shut and locked it. Spinning around on my heels, I went to walk down the stairs and was stopped dead in my tracks as I sucked in a breath of air.
Oh. My. God.
Noah.
“W-what are you doing here?” I asked in a weak sounding voice.
Staring back up at me were those beautiful caramel eyes I found myself lost in on more than one occasion.
“I never got to finish talking to you. I’m glad Lauren’s okay.”
Fumbling over my words, I asked, “H-how did you know?” Remembering Alex had just told me she talked to Noah, I swallowed hard and attempted to talk again.
“I mean, yeah, Lauren’s actually in Vegas with Colt. They’re . . . um . . . they’re getting married.”
Noah smiled and my world rocked on its axis. Lord help me, for his smile does things to my body even still. Swallowing hard, I smiled back.
“That’s wonderful. I’m really happy for them both. I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Lauren yet, but Alex was talking to me at the hospital and filled me in on Lauren’s progress.”
Yet? He hasn’t met Lauren—yet?
Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I asked, “Noah, why are you here? I mean you’re . . .” My heart hurt as I tried to speak the words that wouldn’t form in my mouth.
He’s married now. Just say it, Grace. You need to move on.
Noah took a step up as I instinctively backed up. No. Please don’t come closer to me. I wanted to beg him to stop. If he came any closer, I’d feel his pull and my heart couldn’t take another break.
“That’s what I wanted to come and talk to you about, Grace. You mentioned me being married.”
Swallowing hard, I looked away so he couldn’t see the tears forming in my eyes. It was my fault. I pushed him away. It was no one else’s fault but my own.
Noah reached the top step. Taking in a deep breath, I smelled that familiar scent of his cologne and I whimpered silently inside. My eyes stung as I forced myself not to look at him.
Another step closer. My chest was rising up and down so fast as I dragged in breaths of air.
