Page 122 of The Cinderella Arrangement

“Ouch—hey!”

There was nothing like coming home after a long trip, even if home was a two-bedroom shithole with wall-to-wall carpeting that was rotting away.

Jessica asked me how the trip went, what Italy was like, if Will and I were a couple. I was more curious about what had been going on here, but I didn’t want to ask her about Ben. There was just so much crap in my life, and I wanted for once, to focus on the positive things.

I sank down on the couch with my laptop sitting on my knees.

“I need to email Ben telling him to back off.”

Jessica groaned.

Ben,

I’m really sorry about these past few weeks, but as you know, I’ve been busy working abroad. I was not trying to ignore you.

It’s over. I’ve realized that I really have moved on and I don’t feel the same about you anymore. Please give me space and respect my boundaries. I don’t want to hear anymore about you visiting or calling my parents. I’ve also changed the locks on this apartment. I’m not angry with you, I’m just done.

Goodbye,

Natalie

I slid the laptop for Jessica to read and she nodded. I wanted it to be straight to the point, and I wanted him out of my life. Hopefully, he would read it and give up.

That would be too lucky.

I shut my phone off and watched TV with Jessica, gabbing about the new season of American Idol and laughing at the ridiculous auditions.

“What kind of pizza do you want?”

“Surprise me.”

Thank God for online ordering. We were settling in for a girl’s night complete with margaritas and I was in charge of getting the pizza. I was too tired to go out, so I paid for delivery.

“Now, what should we watch? Rom-com or should we nerd out on Gundam Wing?”

The anime cartoon was our favorite when we were children and it was fun to watchwith the horribly dubbed voice actors. Last time we watched it, I was reduced to tears of laughter, and I really needed a laugh.

The pizza arrived and Jessica blended the margaritas, forgetting to place the top on the blender and getting green ice all over the counter. We scooped the remains into glasses and brought everything to the living room.

BAMBAMBAM.

I jerked from my seat and Jessica’s widened eyes made a hot drop of fear slip down my throat.

BAMBAMBAM.

“All right, I’m coming.”

The door was pounding so hard that the walls rattled.

“Open the fuck up!”

My heart lightened when I recognized the voice. “Will?” Relief washed over me. I was just glad it wasn’t Ben. Annoyed, I yanked open the door. “What are you doing here? I told you—”

My voice stopped at his whitened, shaking face.

“I’ve been trying to call you for over an hour. Why the fuck didn’t you pick up your phone? There’s something you haveto see right now.”

I stepped back as Will entered the apartment. He waved at Jessica, who was halfway out of her seat.

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