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Footsteps sounded in the stairwell and all my energy went to focusing on that. Nora? But no, the steps were too heavy for a woman I could almost fit in my pocket.
The knock was loud and annoying. Definitely not Nora.
“It’s open!” I shouted.
Sam entered. I bit back a groan. Shit. We had plans to clear out my dad’s office today to get it ready for his inevitable move downstairs. Plans I had completely forgotten, what with Nora dumping me. Dad was still mostly good on his feet, but he was getting shakier. Sooner rather than later, it wouldn’t be safe for him to navigate the stairs every day.
“You ready to go?” Sam asked. His gaze landed on the table. “Oh, good, breakfast. I ate, but I could eat again.”
He reached for a bagel. I smacked his hand.
“What the hell, man?” Sam glared at me. “You can’t possibly eat four bagels. Oh, shit, is Nora here?” He glanced around quickly at the empty room.
“She was. She’s gone now.”
“Then she won’t mind me eating her bagel.” He reached again.
I moved the baking sheet out of reach.
“Why are you being so weird about the bagels? I’m taking the day off work to help your dad. The least you could do is feed me.”
“She broke up with me.”
Sam stared at me like I was speaking gibberish. His brows snapped together. “Are you sure?”
I snorted. “Yeah, I’m sure. She gave me a good talk onit’s not you, it’s meand then she left her bagels behind.”
“Shit, man. I’m sorry.” Sam took the chair across from me. “What happened?”
“She saw Alison leaving here about an hour ago.”
Sam looked at me silently, waiting.
“Nothing happened with Alison,” I said defensively.
“I didn’t say otherwise. Nora didn’t believe you?”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “It’s more complicated than that.”
“Right. That mess with her ex.”
I looked at him in surprise. “What do you know about that?”
“Only what Suzie told me.” Sam shrugged. “He cheated on her. I imagine her trust issues took notice of your ex-wife being here so early in the morning.”
No shit.
“It’s more complicated than that,” I said again.
“You know what? You didn’t do anything wrong. If she doesn’t trust you, screw her. You don’t need that.”
But I did need that. Okay, the trust issues I could do without—but Nora, I needed Nora. I looked at the bagels and my chest cramped. They were all I had left of her. She hadn’t left so much as a toothbrush or a pair of underwear at my place.
Sam stood abruptly, his chair making a harsh squeak against the hardwood floor as he shoved it back. He grabbed the sheet of bagels and unceremoniously dumped them in the garbage.
“Hey!” I protested. “You can’t—”
“Oh, yes, I fucking can. You think I’m going to sit here and watch you become Miss Havisham? Hell no.”
