Page 15 of Before I Loved You

Being hugged, even just for a quick moment, suddenly makes me feel emotional. And I don’t get emotional in front of people.

Ever.

“Oh, that’s so nice of you! But I was just on my way out and wanted to say hi.” I smile, holding in tears, and wave at everyone in the room before my eyes falter over a very tall guy standing in the kitchen with his back to everybody, placing food on the counter, appearing oblivious to me being here as Natalie continues the introductions.

But as my eyes scan over his body from head to toe, my gut clenches.

No…it can’t be. Can it?

“Let me introduce you to the gang.” Natalie takes a step away, and I turn my head to see her pull on a girl’s arm, standing near her. From the beautiful chestnut strands and big brown eyes I’ve seen in pictures on Natalie’s phone, there’s only one person this could be. “This is my best friend, Vanessa.”

Vanessa gives a slight wave, and I walk over to her, squeezing her in an embrace.

“I am so glad to finally meet you!” I exclaim.

“You are?” Vanessa breathes out.

I unwrap my arms from around her. “Yes! I knew the moment I met Natalie that something was missing from her life. And”—I peek over at Nate—“no offense, Nate”—my eyes move back to Vanessa—“but it was you.”

“None taken,” Nate responds, reaching into the fridge to pull out a cold beer.

Vanessa’s cheeks turn the slightest shade of pink.

“And you know Nate, of course,” Natalie continues. “And you met Jason last time he was here.”

“Hey,” Jason adds with a quick nod. I smile, but knowing there’s only one person left for Natalie to introduce me to causes my heart to thump wildly.

Stay calm, Sarah. Maybe it’s not him. It’s just some random guy who looks exactly like the father of your baby from behind.

But as he turns toward me, locking his dark chocolate brown eyes onto mine, everything around me blurs.

It’s him.

Natalie looks over her shoulder at the man who is now raking his eyes over my body, seeming like maybe he’s been thinking about that night as much as I have.

“And Sarah, this is—”

“Paul,” Paul says, walking over to me, reaching his hand out for me to take, acting as though we didn’t fuck each other’s brains out five weeks ago. But maybe to him, that’s a typical Saturday night. His large hand wraps around mine, sending a swoosh of tingles to my core, bringing me right back to that night we spent together.

My heart gallops in my chest, and I pray he doesn’t notice the effect he has on me.

“Paul,” I repeat back to him, playing along with the whole “not knowing each other” act as I process the turn of events today.

Five minutes ago, I didn’t have a name for this man, and now I have the whole delicious package standing in front of me.

I realize we’ve been holding each other’s hands for too long and pull back, taking a step away. “Well, it was really nice to finally meet the rest of you, but I better be going.” I turn to leave and can’t help but take one last glance over my shoulder at Paul, who hasn’t been able to take his eyes off of me.

Walking down the hall toward the elevator, I realize, with a bit of hope in my heart, that I may not have to do this alone anymore.

four

PAUL

Sarah.

I was beginning to think this girl was a figment of my imagination and that the whole damn night between us was just a dream.

A really good dream, if I say so myself.

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