Page 151 of Forget Me Not

I take one last look and step out of the cabin, shutting everything back up and leave the boat docks, vowing to never let Hope’s Grace drag me down here again.

I stay in the school longer than I’m supposed to the next night. I just . . . didn’t feel like making the trek back up to the cottage after the kids all left.

It’s dark out and I find myself staring at the blue lobster Cody drew months ago.

I’m so entranced that when a throat clears behind me, I jump so hard I almost spill the cold coffee in front of me.

“Staying late?” Sophie asks, her face twitching nervously as she hangs out in the doorway.

As if the day couldn’t get any worse.

I almost tell her if she’s come to try and sleep with another man I’m seeing, she can go home. My bed is empty.

But . . . I just can’t bring myself to be bitter and angry anymore.

“Just about to head out,” I murmur, mouth suddenly incredibly dry. I start to gather my things, but to my absolute shock and horror, she steps forward, placing a warm travel mug in front of me and perches on the seat opposite my desk.

“Such tiny chairs,” she muses, flipping her gloriously long, sleek hair over her shoulder. Sophie belongs in magazines. Not sleepy little Port Nova. I’ve always secretly admired that about her. Or maybe it was jealousy. Honestly, I’m too tired to care which.

She stares at me, eyeing my cup and her mouth twists.

“It’s decaf. French vanilla cappuccino.”

“Thank you.” Confused by her kindness, I pick it up, sipping it and burning my tongue in the process.

“Good, right?”

“Sophie, what are you doing here?”

She pauses, like I just asked the million-dollar question. We’re sisters, but only in blood. We will never be close.

“Nova, you know I adore you, right?” Sophie asks, raising her sharply drawn brows that could cut my jugular if I dare to argue.

“Could have fooled me.”

She actually looks guilty. Her blue eyes flash with something sad, replaced by a mask of indifference moments later.

“You’re beautiful,” she shrugs. “You’re kind. Sweet. People love you. You take care of everyone.” She shakes her head as if she’s disappointed. “People couldn’t care less where I’m concerned.”

“Stop.”

Jesus, save me the pity party.

“It’s the truth.” She shrugs. “Nova, I’m a horrible person.”

Well, shit.

Now, I feel guilty and I’m not the one that slept with another woman’s husband.

“I owe you an apology. For Jack. And Reid.”

“Sophie, please,” I whisper, tears gathering in my eyes. I don’t want to talk about this. Not after the letter and the call from Anne and Hope’s Grace. I can’t.

“I need to get this out,” she argues.

“I need you to leave.”

“Nova, I’m not leaving until I say what I came to say.”

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