Page 29 of Terms + Conditions
“What do you mean you don’t have a choice? Of course you have a choice!”
“Contractually, I have to go. She invoked theLast Hoorah Clause.” I watch as his mouth falls open, and he looks at me like I have three heads. “Don’t worry about it, okay?”
“Josh…this isn’t normal.”
You can say that again.
Nick continues, “None of this isnormal. How am I not supposed to worry? I’m extremely worried!”
“Because you and Nina are so much better?”
“My marriage, my love for her, wasn’t because of a fucking piece of paper!”
Basically. What else do you call pretending to be someone’s boyfriend for money? The only difference is they didn’t have a piece of paper detailing everything for their trip to Haven six years ago, and we didn’t get paid to be with each other. Well, technically, I guess she did, but that’s beside the point.
“You can be such a judgmental asshole sometimes, y’know that?” I roll my eyes.
“Do you love her?” Nick asks, and I scoff. “I’m serious, Josh. Do you love her? Because I’m not convinced this whole thing was just for show between the two of you. You can’t be with someone that long and not develop some kind of feelings for them.”
“I don’t—”
“Because if you do…why aren’t you fighting harder for her?”
“She doesn’t want me, Nick.” I sigh.
“Sure about that?”
“She’s moved on.”
“If she’s moved on, why isn’thegoing this weekend?”
The rest of my rebuttal gets stuck in my throat. That’s a good point. What was it she said at Millers? They’re “not exactly speaking right now,” whatever that means.
“Wanna know what I think?” Nick asks.
No, but he’s going to tell me anyway.
“I think she wants you to fight for her.”
“She’s the one who ended things, not me.”
“I hear it was 25-75, you.”
What does that mean?
Nick gently raps his knuckles on my desk and stands up. “Well, I’m gonna go. I think I’ve caused enough trouble.” Before he goes, he pauses at the door and points at me. “Just think about it, hmm?”
I don’t reply, only nod absentmindedly because I’m too busy doing exactly what he said.
It’s unseasonably cold for the Charleston area, even more so because her house sits on the coast, only a few blocks from the beach. The drive to Palm Valley is only about an hour from here, situated perfectly between Jupiter and Savannah, but I have a feeling it’s going to feel more like ten.
Walking up to the front door, I can’t help but think about what Nick said yesterday in my office.
I think she wants you to fight for her.
Is he right? Surely, he can’t be. Elizabeth is the one who left. She’s the one who admitted this was how things were always going to end. While she might be the one who pulled the trigger, I can’t deny that I probably pushed her closer to the edge with my trip to Wichita last year. I was just preparing myself for the inevitable and seeing if something else was out there waiting for me…
Before I can knock, the door swings open, and a blur of black and tan charges me.
