AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Sonny.” Letting my endearment slip, I swallow my emotions getting the best of me today. “Is everything okay?”
She shakes her head. “Nox, we need to talk.” The rawness she’s showing me has every wall I’ve built to keep her out rapidly crumbling.
I shift uncomfortably, and that’s when she looks past me, finding Leslie in nothing but her bikini. Her eyes move back to me, and when they stop on my shorts, I realize the Velcro is still undone.
“Hi, Emerson,” Leslie says, but doesn’t come any closer. “I can give you guys some privacy.”
“No.” Emerson throws her hand up, and I hear the hint of pain in her voice. I want to love it, but I can’t. It doesn’t feel right. What she’s just walked in on is making me nauseous.
She clears her throat, composing herself. “No, thank you. It can wait,” Emerson says shakily as she turns to make her getaway.
Leslie speaks up again, her expression showing how uncomfortable she is. “Truly, I’ll give y’all?—”
Holding up my hand, I cut her off. “Nah, let her go. She’s good at that,” I say loud enough that I know Emerson hears it as her steps falter before she reaches Lottie and Greyson’s golf cart.
Part of me wants her to feel a sliver of the pain I felt when she left, but the other part wants to run that golf cart down and beg her to tell me everything. Every detail of Kiran, every detail of what she’s been doing the last two years, every real reason why I wasn’t good enough to make her stay.
I’m fucking pathetic as I stare after her driving away.
Walking back inside my place, it’s eerily quiet, and dread fills me at the conversation this is going to induce.
Leslie sits at my kitchen island, sipping a beer she must have found in my fridge.
“I’m guessing she’s why you couldn’t even stand to look at me a few minutes ago.” She says it more as a statement, like she already knows the answer. Her words aren’t mean; they are just straight to the point.
“Look, Nox, I knew what I was getting into when we started this. You’ve always been honest with me, so I need you to continue to be.”
I nod in response, because she’s right. She deserves that.
“You once told me you’d always love her, but you didn’t think you could ever trust her with your heart again.” She tucks a piece of blonde hair behind her ear. “I know you don’t trust me with your heart either, but if any part of you thinks you could repair what you had with her, I want to know.” She swallows, releasing a breath.
I move to sit beside her, resting my elbow on the counter and running my hand over my face. Leaning closer, she rests her hand on my arm. “Nox…don’t overthink it. If you could ever trust her again, then she’s worth the fight.” I lift my head to meet the eyes of the kindred soul before me, one I know has unfortunately experienced more heartache than myself.
“The look that I just witnessed on Emerson’s face told me that she is very much still in love with you.” No, she can’t be, not after the last two years and the secrets she’s been keeping. I shake my head, unable to truly believe that. But Leslie touches the side of my cheek, stopping me. “If I know one thing, it's that life’s too short, and I would give anything to have another day with my Daniel. So go after what’s yours, Nox. And sure as hell don’t worry about me. My heart was broken and never meant to be healed, so I promise this won’t hurt for long.”
Her words cause a sad smile to form on my lips.
“I will miss the benefits of this relationship, though,” she says with a wink, most likely trying to lighten the mood.
We both stand, and I pull her into a hug. “Thank you.” It’s all I can manage to say. She already knows how I’m feeling, but I’ve yet to accept it.
“Maybe I should head back to Charlotte. I don’t want to stir up unnecessary drama for you.” I’m shaking my head before she’s even finished.
“No way. Let’s go eat. I’m not that much of a jackass.” I chuckle, and she raises her eyebrows, as to say she begs to differ.
Leslie grabs her coverup off the back of my couch and slips it over her head. “So let me ask you this… I don’t wish to hurt Emerson intentionally, but are you wanting to use this opportunity to make her a little jealous and give her a shove in the right direction?”
I consider her question. Of course, I love the thought of her being jealous, but then there is Kiran. I don’t want this to get messy…especially in front of him.
“Let’s just play it cool. She doesn’t need to know what we are. There’s more to the story that I haven’t had the chance to fill you in on yet.”
She looks at me curiously before I drop the bomb I'm sure she didn’t see coming.
“I think I have a son, and you are about to meet him.”
Eight
Iflee Nox’s place, willing my tears to stay at bay. Of course, he’s seeing someone. I mean, I saw her with him at the fight in Charlotte, but I didn’t think it was serious. Seeing her here, in Richmond Hills, makes me wonder if I underestimated their relationship. Is it serious?Was he able to move on that easily?That’s what you asked him to do… That’s what he thinks you did too.
