Page 64 of Diamonds & Deception

“I can’t even imagine what I’d do if I found Amber or... God. Listen to me. I’m not helping. I don’t know what to say in a situation like this. Do you want to talk about it? About your friend?”

She hasn’t mentioned Lenora’s name so maybe she’s not aware of the total fuck up I caused earlier this week. For that, I’m grateful to Drake as well. His friends aren’t as welcoming as Avery, but they’re not shooting me daggers either.

“It’s been an emotional twenty-four hours.” An emotional four days. Five months, really.

“Is there anything I can do or get for you?”

I shake my head. “You being here with me is exactly what I need.”

“I didn’t know you had a dog. Or is she Drake’s?”

“This is Daisy.” I reach down and rub her back. “I adopted her yesterday before...”

“Oh god. Nora, I’m sorry.” She hugs me and holds me as I cry into her shoulder. When my tears dry up, she lets me go. “Will you tell me about her?”

I give Avery a sad smile. “You remind me so much of Lenora. You’re both bubbly and full of life. You brighten up a room the moment you enter it.”

“Oh, sweetie.” Avery covers her heart with her hands. “That’s the sweetest compliment. Tell me more.”

It’s therapeutic talking about Lenora and my days at Boston College. How we bonded over our similar names and joked about how even our last names are seasons. I don’t know how much time has passed when the men finally come out of the office. Trey goes into the kitchen while Drake goes to his bedroom.

“What are you doing?” Avery hollers at her brother over the racket he’s making.

“Making you guys dinner.”

“You don’t need to do that.” I nudge Daisy aside and stand. “I can make us dinner.”

“Since when do you cook?” Avery snorts. “We’ll need to have the number for poison control on speed dial.”

“Funny.” Trey glances down the hallway toward Drake’s room. “Fine by me if you want to cook. I’ll be next door. Text me when you want to leave.”

He heads out the door and Avery shrugs. “My brother isn’t one for small talk. Or for cooking. You sit while I whip us up something. I don’t suppose Drake has any decent ingredients in here, does he? Bachelor life and all.”

“I don’t mind cooking. It will keep my mind off... it will keep me busy. You sit and be my guest.”

“You sure?”

“Absolutely.” I open the fridge to inspect what ingredients Drake has and am surprised to see it’s stocked with many of my favorites. He took care of Daisy, he bought me clothes, and he filled his kitchen with fruits, vegetables, and meat.

Avery whistles behind me and I whip my head around. My jaw drops as I take in every inch of Drake in a perfectly fitted tuxedo as he adjusts his black bowtie. I thought he looked gorgeous in his suit. Holy hell, he’s perfection in the tux. I’m surprised he’s not modeling them on billboards.

“I think you’re a little overdressed for dinner, Drake. But you look mighty fine in a tux.” Avery whistles again and Drake stands uncomfortably, toying with the watch around his wrist.

He catches me staring. “I have a function I need to attend downstairs. Don’t leave the penthouse for any reason,” he says to me. His eyes and voice are stern.

I’m about to tell him off for talking down to me like that when he swings open the door and leaves.

“Wow. Okay. I’m sure it’s something he absolutely couldn’t get out of or he wouldn’t leave you tonight.”

“It’s okay, Avery. We’re not... we’re not dating anymore. He’s just being a friend by letting me stay here for a few days.”

“Friend? Honey. That man thinks of you as a whole hell of a lot more than afriend.”

“We broke up a few days ago. It’s guilt and good manners that had him coming to my rescue.”

“You can keep telling yourself that, but when I get the wedding invite in the mail—because I will be invited—don’t say I didn’t tell you so.”

“Marriage?” I laugh and take out an assortment of vegetables for a salad. “Even if we were still dating, I’m pretty sure Drake isn’t the marrying type.”

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