Page 85 of Holding Out

Her eyes held gratitude.And he wondered: If he’d been able to say that when she’d first left, would things have turned out differently?Would she have walked away from Scott, back to him?

As if he’d spoken the question out loud, she spoke, seeming to answer.“I’m not sure it could have gone any differently,” she said.“I was so young.”Her voice was wistful.“You were my first and I thought all that great sex had to mean something.But maybe it didn’t?Maybe it was just great sex and we should have been smart enough to walk away from it when our lives were so obviously going in different directions.”

He wanted her to stop.Not because it wasn’t true.Itwastrue.But great sex made him think of Becca, and Becca was young.He hadn’t thought that about her recently, but he’d definitely thought it that first night, that Friday Night Dinner when they’d played dirty Taboo.He’d told himself that she was too young and innocent for him and that he wouldn’t make the mistake he’d made with Marina again.

Beccawasn’tMarina.She wasn’t.

Marina was watching him carefully, searching his face for something—he didn’t know what, but it made him uncomfortable and he picked up his beer.

“Griff.There’s more.Scott and I are moving to the East Coast.Connecticut.We’re selling the house.The open house is Thursday.That’s why I had to come by.Aside from the fact that I didn’t want to leave without saying some kind of goodbye, I need you to get that stuff out of the basement.”

He winced.“I’m sorry I left it there so long.”

“It’s okay,” she said.“I get it.I really do.But we need to be able to put stuff down there to stage the rest of the house, so—I don’t mind if you want me just to have someone come haul it away, I just didn’t want to do that without letting you know.”

He shook his head.“No.I don’t want you to have to hassle with that or spend money to do it.I’ll come get it.Look—” He drained the rest of his beer.“Can we just get it over with now?I don’t have anything super important to do the rest of the afternoon.My boss’ll understand.And then I’ll be out of your hair, and—”

And it would be a fresh start for him.For him and Becca.

She nodded.“Works for me.It might take a couple of trips?”

“Okay.Let’s get started.”

39

Becca’s cell phone vibrated on the desk where she’d set it, indicating a phone call.She glanced down, and her heart skipped a beat.It was the salon where she’d interviewed on Wednesday.

“Becca speaking.”

“Hi, Becca.It’s Wendy, at Wallingford Wellness Salon and Day Spa.”

“Hi, Wendy!Good to hear from you.”

“Everyone here really loved meeting you.We think you’re great, and we want to offer you the receptionist position.”

“Oh, wow,” Becca said.“Thank you!That’s great!Wow, that’s great news.”

The enthusiasm was reflexive.It just poured out, because she’d been trained to be polite and she was a natural people pleaser.

Not because she’d been feeling painfully uneasy since Marina and Griff had left.

She hadn’t heard anything from Griff since that first text message, which was—three hours ago, now?The day was almost over.Not that he usually checked in with her a ton during the work day, but she would have expected something.Looking forward to FND!maybe, orHey, sexy, can’t wait to see you!orDon’t freak out, even though I just walked out of work to go have a “talk” with my ex-wife and never came back, there’s nothing to worry about.

There’s nothing to worry about, New Becca said, but her voice had been getting fainter all afternoon.

“So, can I take that as a yes?We’d love to have you!”

She should say no.No, I’m sorry, I’ve decided to stay where I am, on the Oregon coast; I won’t be coming back to Seattle after all.There’s a guy—

Why wasn’t she just saying no?

There’s nothing to worry about,New Becca insisted, now barely more than a whisper.

What if he’s changed his mind?What ifshechanged his mind?What if she wants him back?

He’d take her back in a heartbeat, Nate’s voice said.

He wouldn’t,New Becca said.He wants you to stay.He cares about you.

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