Page 38 of Untethered Heart
Claire scoots closer to me and runs a soothing hand up and down my back. “Shit,” she groans. “Ugh, I know what those situations are like.”
I twist my head to look at her, studying her tired eyes. “You mean with Leif? Or is it Lee?”
“Depends on who you ask?” She shrugs.
“Meaning?”
“I told you his name was Lee on his work emails, but when we were together, before the roof leak at the salon, he told me to call him Leif.”
I nod, staying silent so she can continue.
“When I ran into him last weekend and he was with his family, I called him Leif.” She chews her lips, crossing and uncrossing her legs. “His sister said only his family calls him that. He actually told me that as well when we realised each other’s true identities.”
“So he gave you the name only the family calls him? Instead of the nickname that everyone else calls him. Why would he do that?” I know why. But Claire’s either in denial, or her mother did an excellent job of destroying her ability to trust men. And that just will not do.
“I don’t know,” she whispers, her voice shaking over the words. “We don’t even know each other that well, but this man, Lex. He’s different. And I don’t know what to do with that.” Fire creeps into her words as she runs her hands over the short waves knotted on top of her head. “I don’t do relationships.”
“You could,” I say softly, careful not to hit any nerves. “You just don’t let yourself.”
“Okay, well, what about your billionaire?” Her gold eyes are gentle, but fierce. “Caleb has had your stomach in knots since the night you met. You clearly have feelings for him, and that’s just as uncommon for you as it is for me.”
“Touché, babe.” I rest my head on her shoulder, our words releasing some of the tension we’ve burdened our minds with. “I don’t know what I’m doing or how I’m feeling right now.”
After taking some time to sit on the beach and think about the messiness in our lives, we make our way back to the house. Claire gets ready for her handover meeting with her site supervisor, Westley, and I down another coffee before heading to the gym. An hour of Pilates later, my legs hurt, my butt hurts, and breathing feels like little knives are stabbing my stomach, but my feelings for Caleb are still there.
I messaged Claire to bring me back an eclair from Sweet Escape once she finished her meeting. She replied with an offer of a bestie date on the couch, but I think I need to see Caleb again.Just one more time before I accept reality. So I text her back, suggesting a night at The Wayside instead.
Perhaps he’ll be there. Maybe I’ll see him flirting with someone else, and that will help me move on. Then I can feel angry and annoyed by him instead of this dreadful longing.
Chapter twenty-two
Having to push Lex away while I dealt with my conflicting feelings has sat curdling in my stomach since last night. I’ve brought work home with me to distract myself, but after reading the same sentence of this market analysis report over and over, I still have no idea what it says.
I came clean to Isabelle this morning at work that my Lex was the same Lex she met last night. When she asked me what I was going to do, I had no words. I hoped she would have some suggestions, but all she could offer was to focus on work. We have a contract, a invested interest. Anything I’d had before with Lex was done, and now I’m the only one who can decide if she’s worth the risk of more.
My phone beeps on the table beside me. Notifications from the Heart sibling chat light up the screen.
GAGE:
Perks of owning a bar. Every week is a front row seat to my baby brother hitting on girls, only to have last week’s girl throw a drink in his face because she thought they were something more.laughing-emoji
BETH:
MASON! Seriously?
MASON:
Why would I go to another bar when I get free drinks here? It’s not my fault they all read into things. I never make any promises.
GAGE:
Dude. You don’t drink for free here… and I think you can afford it anyway.
BETH:
BAHAHAHA
MASON:
