Page 37 of Fumbled Into Love

All reminders Nathalie was there, and I enjoy that far more than I dislike the mess.

“Has it been weird?” Henry asks, and my mind flashes to when I tackled her.

I shake my head.

“We’ve barely seen each other with our schedules.”

Henry nods in understanding. “The after-school program schedule is odd, and Nathalie covers for Sawyer so she can be home when I am during the season.”

I bite back the annoyed grunt attempting to escape. I would like to see my fake girlfriend-slash-new roommate more than in passing, so I would appreciate it if she was slightly less kind and thoughtful.

“Nice of her,” I grumble.

I have no right to claim any of her time, but I want it, nonetheless.

“She’s the best,” Declan beams before disappearing to his locker, satisfied with his interrogation.

I already know she’s the best. It’s why I am irrationally upset when she spends time with anyone else.

I twirl the green puzzle piece between my fingers, searching for its spot within the puzzle. Gordie meows, and my head darts to the door, where I have a direct line of sight. For the last hour, I’ve been working on my puzzle of the Scottish Highlands, impatiently waiting for Nathalie to return from work.

I should be done by now, only a few dozen pieces left, but my thoughts are a flurry of blue glasses and braids and eyes the softest shade of brown.

The floorboards in the hallway creak, and my head jerks to find Nathalie waltzing out of her room, arms overflowing with bags as she waddles toward the door. Gordie weaves through her feet, batting at a dangling strap, and she stops to pet him.

“Where are you going?”

I do my best to hide my frown. An hour we could have spent together was wasted watching the door.

“Maren’s house. We moved Book Club so Declan could come.” She stops in front of the coffee table. “Oh, I love puzzles! We should do one together,” she offers, dropping her things with a thud and leaning over to tie her bright pink Converse.

Of course, she loves puzzles.

I’ve been attempting to corral my cumbersome emotions and her suggesting puzzle time is not helping my effort.

How many times did I ask Savannah to complete a puzzle with me?

The puzzles help my mind settle after a long day and keep my hands busy. I constantly fidget, needing something to do with my hands, and the puzzles help ease that.

Like other things, Savannah found my love for puzzles confusing and a waste of time.

Every memory is a knife to the chest since I realized how poorly she treated me. A woman who barely knows me has offered me more kindness and respect than the woman I thought I wanted to marry.

It’s a difficult pill to swallow.

Nathalie’s ass is high in the air as she ties her shoes, and I blink away every inappropriate thought of peeling the leggings off her body.

“Oh.”

Disappointment creeps in as I realize she’s going to hang out with her friends. I want her to stay here with me and Gordie. She can have all the fun she wants as long as she’s having it right here at home with me.

“Did you want to come?” She bites back a coy smile, and I pretend to ponder the question. “Unless you want to stay and work on your puzzle…”

I leap from the couch, scrambling for my shoes.

“Yes! I’ll come. We can do the puzzle later.”

Her laughter is a cacophony of the most beautiful sounds as she leans against the counter, watching as I hop to get my running shoes on my feet.

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