Page 74 of One Sweet Day I Found You

Courtney didn’t have a short or easy answer for that. Yes, the situation didn’t look good, but he was jumping to the worst possible conclusion. She had never imagined she could make him so angry. “It’s not—”

He swung open the door of the Jeep and jumped inside then slammed it shut.

Overwhelmed, Courtney moved out of the way.

Nick backed out of the parking spot, refusing to make eye contact with her. Courtney felt the blood drain from her face as the black Jeep sped down the driveway, turned onto the road, and disappeared from sight.

Her head was still spinning when Austin approached. She clapped a hand over her mouth. Her eyes felt moist. No words would come.

Austin cast a shadowed look at Courtney and she stared back at him.

What had she done? She looked away.

“I’m sorry, Court. I didn’t know there was someone.” He searched her eyes.

A sob began to push its way forward inside her throat, forcing itself out, until finally, she dropped her hand and let out a miserable groan. “No. No.”

She turned on her heels and hurried into the house, before Austin could see her fall apart completely.

A moment later, Jon’s car turned off of the main road and into the driveway.

* * *

Nick was livid.He raced to the marina and pulled into a spot in the main lot, keeping the engine running. It was relatively empty this early. There was no one around.

He didn’t want to see the guys at the shop yet. He didn’t have to be at work for an hour. But what was he going to do now? Sit here and stew? He couldn’t even think straight. He couldn’t think of anywhere else to go, other than home, but Tom was still there. He didn’t want to see anyone right now, not even him.

He closed his eyes and rested his head in his hands, leaning against the steering wheel.

He never imagined Courtney would do something like this. She wasn’t like that.

Was she?

Seriously, whatwasthat?

He sat up.

He’d only meant to surprise her today. Make up for yesterday.

He scoffed. Looks like he’d surprised her, all right, in more ways than one.

He thought she’d have been eager to see him. But apparently, she couldn’t waitoneday for him when things didn’t go her way?

And whowasthat guy? What was he doing there? Nick and Courtney had never talked about being exclusive, but he didn’t think they’d had to. Things had been so perfect between them.

It had been just about a month since they’d met. Was she already tired of him? Or had she been dating other guys all this time? Had heimaginedtheir connection? He thought for sure it had been real.

What had he missed? He wracked his brain. Were there signs? Maybe he’d been the only one who’d thought things were perfect.

Nick’s parking spot faced the water. He gazed out the Jeep’s front window at the lake before him. It was quiet, just a few boats out on the water, the sky a dull gray. He sighed heavily and rolled down the driver’s side window then turned off the engine.

She’d tried to tell him something before he left. Denials. Lies, probably. Something about going out with Kira last night.

So one night out at a bar and this is what she does? Maybe it was better he found out now, if this was how Courtney rolled.

He took a gulp of the coffee sitting in the cup holder. It was still warm. He felt exhausted all of a sudden. He sipped it again, then set it down and buried his face in his hands.

He had to go back to work all day, deal with the public, and act like his heart hadn’t just been ripped out of his chest.

Great.How in the world was he going to do that? This felt worse than last year, with Regina, and they’d dated for over a year.

He took in a heavy breath and let it out. He sat back and leaned his head against the headrest.

He would not let her make a fool of him again. This was not just something he could forgive and forget.

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