Page 80 of One Last Time
“I figured since we’re both divorced, maybe you’d like to havedinner. . .”
“Oh,” I say taken aback. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m kind of seeingsomeone.”
The truth is, I’m kind of falling in love with someone. Everything today has shown me that my heart wants Noah. My head wants to never again feel the pain of losing a man I trusted to love me. I’m battling both parts of myself even though Noah is nothing like Scott. It’s more because there’s still so much we don’tknow.
The longest song ever ends, and Federico’s hands fall. “I hope he treats you right,” he says, and I nod while biting mylip.
He does treat meright.
He treats me better than anyone hasbefore.
How can I feel this strongly when the relationship is thisnew?
It doesn’t matter how much I tell myself this is a bad idea, I crave him. Not just the sex, which is freaking unreal, I cravehim. His smile, his words, his touch, and the way he makes my whole shitty situation not feel so . . .shitty.
I look for Noah, but he’s not where he was. Butterflies fill my belly, and I keep lookingaround.
“Don’t dance with anyone else,” his deep voice whispers from behind me. “I can’t watch another man hold you, touch you, feel you in hisarms.”
I nod. “Same goes foryou.”
The heat from his body is against my back, warming every part of me. And then a split second later, it’sgone.
I turn quickly, but all I see is him walkingaway.
Thankfully, the reception is almost over, and less than an hour later, we’re on the dock, bidding farewell to our bestfriend.
“Thank you, guys,” Heather says as the four of us stand in acircle.
“You did it for all of us,” Danielle says. “Well, almostall.”
Nicole sticks her tongue out, causing us tolaugh.
“You’re off to Vancouver next week?” I ask, trying to hide thesadness.
Heather’s bottom lip curls. “I am, but I’m not staying thewholetime he’s filming. I’ll be back in two months. I’ll miss youguys.”
We all group hug, like we’ve done since we were little girls. They’re the closest thing I’ve had to sisters, and the last two years, we’ve grown evencloser.
“If Eli were my husband, I wouldn’t ever come back. He could just do me all day,” Nicole saysunapologetically.
Danielle slaps her arm. “You’re socrass.”
“You wouldn’t have me any other way.” Nicole puts her head on her shoulder and kisses hercheek.
Heather and I give each other a look andsmile.
“Ready, baby?” Eli comes up behind her and slides his arm around hermiddle.
She nods. “Okay, loves. I’ll see you in a fewweeks!”
We all take turns hugging and kissing them both. She grabs my wrist before I can walk away. “Hey,” she saysquietly.
“What’swrong?”
“Nothing, I hope. Are you and Noahokay?”
Her question stuns me a little. “Okay? Sure, we’re working on thefeature.”
