Page 82 of One Sweet Day is Never Enough

The girls nodded and Courtney conceded. “Now I understand why you seem so upset. I mean—on top of everything else—with your job and all.” She reached behind her and rubbed Gia’s shoulder midstride.

The trail left the meadow and opened up to a view of the vast lake. The sky was a perfect blue to match, and they stopped to take a few group photos in front of the water. Gia brushed off the anxiety long enough to put her arms around her friends and muster a genuine smile. She was lucky to have these girls.

Kira spoke up from the back as they picked up the pace again. “So are you going to call him out on it? You guys should talk. Maybe he didn’t even know she took the apartment until today?”

“Doesn’t matter. He knew about the chance of it a couple of weeks ago. He could’ve mentioned it to me—it’s a pretty big deal—if they’d made plans for her to move here. Don’t you think? And besides, if he couldn’t tell methat—what else is he not telling me? Or what else—in the future? It makes me worry.”

“Oh, yeah, I get it,” Kira said. The others nodded.

“I’ve been burned enough times…”

“Been there, done that.” Angela glanced back with a knowing look.

“I still think you should hear him out,” Courtney said. “You never really know what’s going on with people until you give them a chance to defend themselves. I should know.”

The girls agreed, grinning. They all knew her history with Nick and how a few secrets had almost destroyed them.

Kira called out from the back. “I second the motion.”

Gia was quiet for a few seconds. “I guess you guys are right. Anyway, I’d better find out if she’s actually staying before I lose it, but I’msodreading the answer.”

* * *

“I changed my flight this morning.”Stacey stared at the grass as she and Seth strolled through the orchard midday. “I fly out of Milwaukee at nine fifteen tomorrow morning. Would you mind taking me to the airport?”

He turned to gaze at her, stunned. He’d been hoping she’d do this, but he hadn’t expected her to go ahead and take care of it without some persuasion on his part. “Sure. Absolutely.” He nodded. It was a three-and-a-half-hour trip one way to Milwaukee and they’d have to leave long before the sun came up tomorrow, but he didn’t mind. He could use the drive home to think, plus, the sooner they put this behind them, the better. “Thanks, Stace.”

She looked over at him cautiously. “You think you can take me over to the apartment complex so I can pick up my suitcases today, too? I’ll see if I can get out of the lease.”

“Of course.” Seth nodded. “Stacey, I’m sorry things are—”

“—You don’t have to say anything, Seth. I know I was out of control last night. It was totally impulsive for me to jump on a plane and come here. To go ahead with plans to move here when you told me not to. I wish I had taken you at your word and listened. I’m really sorry I made such a mess of things.” She hung her head.

“Thanks. Me, too.” Seth cast his gaze to the ground and they continued in silence to the end of a row of cherry trees. “Listen, I owe you an apology.” He took a deep breath and looked over at her. “I should’ve told you about Gia at some point when we talked after—well, after we broke up. You never would’ve thought there was any hope of us getting back together if I had, and you deserved to know. I’m sorry.” He looked over at her. “And I meant it when I said I didn’t cheat on you, but…” He stared back at the ground and stopped walking, so she stopped. He looked back at her. “But she and I met while you and I were still dating. We developed a friendship, and I’ll be totally honest—I did start to have feelings for her before I broke it off with you. If I’d have just told you the whole truth instead of downplaying that aspect of it—”

“—You mean leaving that aspect out of itentirely?” Stacey started walking again and Seth followed. Her tone was dry but she seemed like she was okay with the statement.

Seth shot her an ironic smile. “Yeah, leaving it out entirely—then you would’ve realized it was really over for us. I could’ve saved you a lot of trouble.”

“—And a lot of money.” Stacey snorted under her breath.

“That, too.”

“And this horrible hangover.”

Seth grinned. “Oh, I tried to save you from that, but you weren’t havin’ it.”

She laughed then sighed heavily. “It’s okay. You probably never thought I’d do something so impulsive.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You can say that again.” He stole another glance at her.

She grinned. “It’s my fault, in the end. I’ll take the blame.”

Seth waved it off, but he appreciated the sentiment.

“And I figured you’d met someone. I knew something had changed between us a while back. I’m not blind. I was just in denial. I wish things had worked out.”

Seth nodded.

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