Page 49 of Any Port in a Storm

A single tear drips down my face. “I don’t know if I have it in me to give more. If my best isn’t enough, I’m not sure I’m ever going to make a relationship work with anyone.”

“You will,” Nick cuts in.

I’m startled by his intensity. “I just…I want to focus on my career, you know? On school? It matters so much to me, and…” I shake my head. “I don’t know how to give more of myself. I don’t want to risk that. For anyone, really.”

Grace gets out of the armchair and crosses to sit beside me. “You shouldn’t have to, sweetheart. Don’t ever change who you are for a relationship.”

“But that’s the thing,” I sniffle. “I didn’t. And it still wasn’t enough.”

“For the right person,” Nick says softly, “it will be.”

Grace shoots me a pointed look. She’s been telling me the same thing for the last four days, ever since I came back from Sam’s apartment in a bit of a depressed fog. The funk this breakup left me in is certainly not at Alex Lindberg levels, or anything, but I wouldn’t say I’m handling it particularly well. I’ve stayed in bed almost nonstop, calling in sick for class and subsisting mostly on Slim Jims and yogurt.

At least I’m getting my protein in this time.

I let out a shuddering breath, the tail end of a crying jag that Grace and Nick have kindly entertained for the better part of an hour. “I hope you’re right.”

“He is,” Grace agrees, leaning across me to pat Nick’s arm.

“I’m just…angry, I guess.” I throw my napkin onto my plate. I’ve lost my appetite. “I swore I wasn’t going to put myself out there again after Alex. And then I did, and I got hurt anyway.” I cast a furtive glance at Grace. “Twice.”

She raises a covert brow. “I know. But, hon, that doesn’t mean you stop trying.”

“Is Alex high school guy?” Nick asks. I’ve never really given him the full backstory, because my breakup with Alex happened before our friendship took root. And, frankly, the degree to which the whole situation destroyed me is more than a little embarrassing.

I nod. “Yeah. We’d been dating for a few years, and we promised to try long distance. But he cheated on me. And…it broke me, honestly.”

“I can confirm that,” Grace adds. “She was a mess.”

“Gee, thanks.” I frown, drawing a line in the condensation on the side of my glass. “But it was really hard. And I kind of promised myself after that…well, that I would never let someone break my heart again. That I wouldn’t take the risk.”

“But then you did. For Sam.” Nick’s expression is shrouded in something harboring on anger.

“I suppose I did.” And for you, I say silently, thinking of the leap I was about to take last fall. But Nick can’t know about that.

“A broken heart is part of the game, sweetheart,” Grace says gently. “But you’ve got us, and we’re going to make sure yours heals.”

“To be totally honest, I’m not sure mine is. Broken, that is.” I look up at Nick, who’s studying my face from six inches away. “This time, anyway.”

“Alex was a complete douchebag,” he says, reaching for my hand. “And Sam is just an idiot.”

I start to protest, but he shakes his head, squeezing my fingers in his. “He’s an idiot, because he walked away. Clearly not the sharpest knife in the drawer, giving up on you.”

“He’s right, you know.” Grace grins.

“Thanks, guys. I hope you’re right.”

“We are,” Grace says. “If you’re good here,” she addresses Nick, “I’m going to grab a quick shower.”

They exchange some sort of secret look. “We’re good here,” he assures her.

The minute Grace leaves the room, I pounce. “What was that about?”

Nick doesn’t look up from his pizza. “What was what about?”

“That look.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”