Page 47 of His Curvy Distraction

Finley nodded. “I know, but Trent didn’t know me when we met. We were paired on Book Boyfriends Wanted, had a one-night stand, and I got pregnant. I never thought I’d see him again, but it felt wrong to not find him. It wasn’t easy to get to where we are now, but we are proof people who don’t think they should go together can work.”

“You’re different, though. You’re friendly and talkative. People like you. I’m none of those things.” I pushed my hair out of my face and fought the urge to let my emotions get to me.

“People like you, Natalie,” Blake said. “You don’t give yourself enough credit. Not all of us can be outgoing and talkative, but that doesn’t mean you’re not friendly.”

“People don’t see me that. People would only see me and Mayor Knight and wonder what in the world he could possibly see in me,” I said, feeling the panic rising up.

“I think you’re wrong. I think people will accept that there are always things about others we don’t understand or know. I’m divorced, but Patrick saw through my past and wanted me. Omar was told I wasn’t doing my job and should be fired, but he saw past Mayor Levine’s hatred and sexism and looked at who I am. Unless he was cruel to you, I see no reason why you should stay away from him,” Goldie said, her face open and curious, waiting for my answer.

I shook my head. “He wasn’t cruel. I didn’t give him a chance to be. I walked out.”

“You walked out? Before you even talked to him?” Elise asked. “I get that, but it’s harsh.”

“No,” I said. “I talked to him, but when I saw it was him, I left.”

“Ouch,” Karissa said.

“I did that to Colin,” Elise said. “We were matched, and we had already met and he scared me. I knew he had the power to make me better. To pull me in and make me want things I didn’t think I deserved back then. I was not ready to accept that love was in the cards for me. And he made it obvious that he would challenge that. So, I ran.”

“What happened?” I asked.

Elise shrugged, a grin lifting her lips. “He didn’t give up. He knew we were meant to be before I even accepted he was someone I could trust.”

“That’s not going to happen for me.” I took a bite of my cake, feeling both better and worse.

“Has he reached out since last night?” Elise asked.

I shook my head. “I haven’t looked at the app, but I’m sure he hasn’t.”

“Check now,” Goldie said. “Just to see.”

I rolled my eyes and grabbed my phone from my handbag. I was sure there would be nothing and I could get back to my cake. Better to get it over with and go back to what I knew.

Mayor Knight was not going to be right for me.

I opened the app and gasped. I had thirteen notifications. It could have been anything, but I opened the messaging section and saw all of them were from him.

BigCityConvert

I wish you hadn’t run out on me. I promised I wouldn’t do that to you. I should have asked you to make the same promise.

My cheeks heated at his words. He was right. I was worried he would meet me and leave, but I was the one who did that.

I pressed my hand to my mouth and kept reading.

BigCityConvert

I’m sorry you were disappointed it was me. I was not disappointed.

I was disappointed you left. I enjoyed talking to you.

Maybe this is better. Talking on here. What do you think?

I guess not.

I looked at the times. The last message came this morning. The others were from the night before. He reached out right after I left, and I ignored him all night, but he kept trying.

BigCityConvert

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