Page 110 of His Turn

“It’s next weekend. Rochelle and Quin are having a little get-together at their house and we want you to come. It will be fun, Bric. I promise. We miss you. You need to come.”

“But Nadia, Chella. I don’t want to bring her. I really don’t. I’m done with it. I just want to put everything about her behind me.”

“I like her,” Chella says. “She’s interesting. A ballerina, right? Remember when you gave me that sculpture after we first met? I took her to see it at my house. Told her that you paid for the whole installation outside the Mountain Ballet Theatre. She was impressed. And she wants a chance to make it up to you.”

“She said that?” I ask, picturing her and Chella talking about me on Chella’s patio as they look at that sculpture. It pisses me off. I told her not to fucking talk about me.

But then I soften, thinking about Chella. Things were good back then. Even though Rochelle hadn’t come home yet and I didn’t even know about Adley. Things were good. I still had Smith and Quin was still talking to me. Chella and I were just beginning to think about the Tea Room last winter. It was good back then and it can be good again.

Chella nods. “She did. She said that. She said she did something hurtful to you and she needs a second chance to set things right. Even if you don’t end up together, she said she needs an opportunity to make it right.”

“Those were her words?” I ask, an evil idea springing to mind.

“Her exact words,” Chella confirms.

“Let me think about it,” I say, because I need a little time to get this plan with Nadia in place. One more mind fuck to set things right. With any luck, Nadia will be a bad mistake in the past by the time next weekend rolls around.

“OK,” Chella says, standing up. “But I’m going to tell Rochelle that you’re coming. Adley is about to get a tooth. You don’t want to miss seeing that, right?”

I frown. “No,” I say. “I don’t.”

“Then it’s settled. You’re coming.” Chella is happy when I meet her at the door. She places both her hands on my cheeks and says, “I miss you, ya know. We all miss you. And I know it’s been rough for you, Bric. But we love you. You need to come back to us.”

She kisses me on the cheek and turns away before I can say anything to ruin her proclamation.