“I think you should cut him some slack,” he says, and I look up at him as he dips his head down toward me. “I’m not saying you should let him off the hook for the shit he’s done, but part of me knows he’s trying to find a way to make things work between you two. He cares about you.”
“Don’t you think it’s a little insane how he’s acted?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never really cared about a woman besides you, so I can’t say what I would do to make sure the person I cared about was safe.”
“I don’t need him to take care of me, Jamie, and I’m not doing anything that would put me in danger,” I say, and his arm around me seems to tighten ever so slightly. “What. What is that?”
“I think you should give him a chance to explain himself,” he replies before pressing his lips to the top of my head. “I don’t want to go, but I need to meet up with Dan. We’re supposed to finalize the schedule for the next few months.” He lets me go and stands.
I want to ask him what his subtle reaction was about, if he knows something I don’t, but I keep my mouth closed. He doesn’t need to worry about me right now. In a way, his life is just starting, and I don’t want to complicate that or make him feel like he needs to choose between me and his future.
“I’ll be at your show Friday,” I say quietly, getting up to walk him to the door.
“I’ll be looking for you,” he responds, and then he stops and turns to face me. “Call me—if anything happens or if you just need to talk.”
My chest warms. “Thanks, big brother.” I give him a hug then open the door.
With a lift of his chin, he’s gone and I lock up. I look around my empty apartment and walk over to my bed, where I flop down face-first then roll to my back. I stare at the ceiling, thinking it’s way too quiet, and worse, a little bit lonely.
“I should get a fish,” I mutter to myself. I mean, I don’t really think a fish is exactly good company, but at least it would be something. Maybe I’ll become the fish lady, with a hundred fish tanks to take care of, since I don’t think I can become a dog lady, not with how much time they require. And cats are out of the question, since I’m allergic, even though I wish I wasn’t.
With a groan, I pull my pillow over my head. I must be more tired than I thought I was, because I wake up to an annoying buzzing sound in that exact position. I toss my pillow away and get up to stumble to the door half asleep, and I press the intercom when I get there. “Hello.”
“Ms. Newton, I have a delivery for you. Are you available to accept it?”
I blink at the clock across the room and see it’s six, around the time I usually get up to start getting ready for work.
“Ms. Newton, are you there?”
“Sorry, yes, you can bring it up.” I release the button then walk into the kitchen and fill my teakettle, willing it to boil.
I yawn as there is a knock on the door, and when I open it, I don’t know what I’m expecting, but it’s not someone just handing me a card. I accept it with a quiet “thank you” then walk over to the couch and stare at the sealed envelope, flipping it over in my hands before finally ripping open the seal. I unfold the white piece of paper, and I swallow as I read the typed-out words.
I’m sorry,
Braxton
I want to believe him. I want to believe he really is sorry, but I’m not sure he even thinks what he did was wrong—not after everything he’s done and continues to do. I ball up the paper in my hand and drop it to the floor at my feet. Then I get up and grab a cup of tea before going to get ready for work.
And when I get home that evening, I find a beautiful, brightly colored betta fish in a simple glass bowl on my kitchen counter along with a container of food. I tap the glass smiling then take off my watch and toss it into one of the drawers.
Chapter 11
Dakota
STANDING IN MY bathroom with Samantha next to me, both of us primping to go out tonight for Jamie’s show, I meet her gaze in the mirror and smile as she picks up her wineglass to take a sip. This week, we’ve spent a lot of time together, not just at work but we’ve had lunch together every day and went out for drinks a couple times. It’s been nice having a friend, and I’m looking forward to having her with me tonight to keep me company.
“Can I ask you something?” she asks, and I laugh, because she already sounds a little tipsy. Then again, I might be a little tipsy myself.
“Sure.”
“What’s going on with you and Mr. Adams?”
At her question, I almost burn myself as I fumble with my curling rod. Besides Samantha mentioning Braxton showing up at the bar, no one has questioned me. Not one person has even given me a funny look. It’s like it never happened at all, and because of that, I kind of forgot it even did.
“Sorry, I shouldn’t ask. I mean, it’s not my business.”
I wet my lips, unsure what to say. I want to be honest with her, because her question is something a friend would ask, but a part of me wants to keep the information to myself until I know where he and I are headed.
“I don’t know,” I say quietly. It’s been days since I’ve spoken to him. Not that he hasn’t attempted to contact me. I’ve just been working hard at ignoring his calls, texts, and e-mails, wanting time to try to figure out my feelings without his overwhelming presence interfering. I’ve figured out that I miss him and have even been grateful for his persistence during this time. It’s made me feel like he hasn’t forgotten me, like what we’ve shared is important to him, like I’m important to him.
“The night we met, I had no idea who he was.” I set down my curler and pick up my glass of wine. “He lied to me. I was supposed to meet a blind date. I thought he was the guy and approached him, and instead of telling me he was the wrong man, he told me he was my date.”
“Shut up,” she whisper-hisses, and I shake my head with a giggle, like Jamie finding the humor in the situation now that I’m no longer angry about it.
“We went out and one thing led to another, and he stayed the night.”
Her eyes are wide with horror. “Let me guess—you found out he lied the next morning.”
I nod. “I found out he lied and lost my mind. Then later, I found out exactly who he is when I ran into him at the office. And since then, things between us have been complicated.”
“I hate to tell you this, but it sounds like it’s always been complicated.”
“You’re not wrong about that.” I sigh, turning back to the mirror.
“Do you like him?”
“When he’s not making me mad or doing things that make me crazy, I really like him. I’ve never met a man like him before. He’s funny, sweet, and really kind, but he can also be pompous, demanding, and infuriating.”
“Hot.” She grins then continues, “And let’s not forget gorgeous and sexy.”
“We can’t forget that.” I laugh.
“Well, I think you guys look cute together, and I don’t know him or what he’s like, but I’ve dated a lot, and I can tell you that not once did a guy show up where I was because he wanted to spend time with me. Really, most of the men I’ve dated would be happy if I decided to go out with friends, so they could have some time alone or time to do whatever they wanted to do… including another girl.”