Page 24 of My Heart To Heal

‘Why are y’all acting like I’m making this up?’

‘Missy, we’re not,’ Bree answers softly. ‘It’s just confusing to us because we’ve known him forever, and the Nick we know actively avoids confrontation.’

‘Well, maybe I’m just special then.’ My arms come out the sides before slapping down against my thighs.

‘Maybe you are.’ I meet Cara’s stare as she smirks and stands. ‘Okay, hear me out.’

‘Turn me around,’ Zoe calls out, and Bree turns the iPad so her sister can see Cara. ‘Okay, go.’

‘When I got here, Doug was awful to me, like, really horrible,’

‘No.’ I shake my head. ‘I saw and heard the way he was with you, and it was always obvious he wanted to bang you. Nick wants nothing to do with me at all.’

‘I don’t know.’ Bree chimes in, and I shake my head. ‘He’s attracted to you — you know that because he hit on you at the wedding.’

‘What?’ Zoe screeches.

‘Oh hardly, he was wasted — he could barely even stand.’

‘Ohh,’ Zoe’s exclamation has us all turning our attention to the tablet to see her bouncing excitedly. ‘He was wasted, but he was also in a really bad mood.We gave him a ride home, and he was not himself at all.’

‘And that’s exciting because?’

‘Becausemy sweet summer child, Nick, can’t talk to women he’s interested in — never has been able to. He fucks it up every time.’

‘Oh my god.’ Bree stands now. ‘I forgot.’

‘What the fuck are you talking about?’

‘Look, I’m not going to lay his shit out, but Nick is complicated. I’m willing to bet he got so drunk at the weddingbecausehe wanted to talk to you.’

‘And he’s being an asshole now because he’s embarrassed,’ Zoe adds to her sister’s words.

‘That makes no sense.’ I drop back down to sit. He’s a grown man, a very grown,veryhot man. There’s no way he can’t talk to women. If he liked me, he’d have made that known.

‘Remember when I said to give him another shot at a first impression?’ Bree asks, and I glare at her.

‘I did that and ended up with a dent in the side of my car.’

‘He’s a good guy, Miss. I’m sorry he’s made you feel shitty, and if you want me to talk to him, you know I will, but I’d put money on his behavior toward you being about something other than him not liking you.’

‘I’ve had myfill of letting men talk to me like shit,’ I say, resigned. ‘I’m not giving him another chance.’

And I mean it. Bree and Zoe know him, and I trust them, but there’s no excuse for the way he’s been treating me. I promised myself a long time ago I’d never let a man make me cry ever again. He made me break that promise to myself, and that’s unforgivable.

Nobody Needs ThatMuch Sugar

Missy

‘Jonah, would you likea drink, sweetie?’ I call out from the kitchen to my boy as he sits on the living room floor, watchingThe Polar Expressfor the second time today.

‘No thanks, Mama.’

I smile as I glance around the room. This is our sanctuary — this beautiful space, all lit up and decorated for Christmas, my son’s favorite movie on the TV, my perfect kitchen, and the olive green walls I dreamed about for years. This is our home, and I love it.

Leaving the kitchen, I head toward the couch and notice that Jonah looks a little off.

‘Baby, you okay?’

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