Page 43 of One Last Time
Celebaholic:You’re in town visiting Eli Walsh,correct?
Noah Frazier:I am. Eli and I became close friends while working onA Thin BlueLine.
Celebaholic:I’m sure you two get into a lot oftrouble.
Noah Frazier:Well, only when tequila is involved. Usually, we’re pretty boring, other times trouble falls in our laps or pulls usin.
I can’t help the smile that forms. I can see his grin clear as day as he said that part. The way his green eyes were full ofmischief.
Celebaholic:I can only imagine. We know the world cried a little when Eli was no longer available, any possible loveinterests?
Noah Frazier:There’s someone I have feelingsfor.
Celebaholic:Care to commentmore?
Noah Frazier:No. She knows who sheis.
Celebaholic:Well, she must beflattered.
Noah Frazier:With any luck, she’ll be more than that. I’m hoping forinterested.
My heart starts to race, and my throat goes dry. I’m the girl he’s talking about. I’m the girl that Noah Frazier has his sights set on, and I know what it feels like to be in his arms, touch his body. My lips tingle as I remember the way his mouth moved with mine, the mint taste on his tongue, and I have no idea what to do about any of that except stay away. Noah has no idea how damaged my heart is, and there isn’t a chance in hell that he’ll stick around if he catches a glimpse ofit.
I lean back, close the laptop, and drain the remnants of my wine, already knowing there’s no way I can finish the article now. I have Noah on the brain. It’s been so long since anyone has looked at me like he does. Like I’m worth a damn. A man who has no business chasing a regular girl like me thinks I’mspecial.
No. I don’t believeit.
He can’t possibly want me for more than just a quick lay. I’m definitely not that kind of girl. I need more, I always have. The last thing I want is to be good, but not good enough formore.
I head to the bathroom to wash my face and get ready for bed. “What was I thinking?” I say aloud as I stare at my reflection. “You’re simple, frustrating, and couldn’t get things right, Kristin. You failed at keeping Scott happy. You’re worthless, just like he told you over and over.” Tears start to fall as Scott’s words fill my head. “You let yourself go. Youusedto be so pretty. Not tonight, I don’t feel like working that hard to get you to theend.”
There’s no way a man like Noah is going to stick around. I’d be a fool to thinkotherwise.
Last night wasthe worst night I’ve had since I left Scott. I cried myself to sleep, hearing fifteen years’ worth of put-downs.
Doubt is irrational and doesn’t care that the voice inside my head is from years of being with an unhappy man. I can tell myself that Scott used his insecurities on me so he felt better, but in the end, I’m not always strong enough to believeit.
Last night was one ofthem.
Now, in the mid-morning light, I know I was crazy to allow Scott to have that kind of power over me. His words are noise, and I’m going to drown it out with the positivity that lives inside me. Negativity is so much easier to believe, but I’m done with living in thathell.
I have a few hours before he’s due to drop the kids off, and I frantically start to clean just to prove him wrong. I’m a good mother, I can keep a tidy home, and I’mpretty.
A knock on the door startlesme.
“Kristin, you home?” Danielle’s voice comes from the otherside.
“Hey.” I smile as I pull itopen.
She lifts a cup of coffee in her hand, and I want to kiss her. “You are the best friend a girl couldhave.”
Danni laughs and enters the house. “This place looks great, hun. You’ve done a great job of making it look different andyours.”
“Youthink?”
She nods. “Ido.”
“Thanks.” I motion to the couch, and we both take a seat. “I’mtrying.”
