Page 16 of Every Bit As Perfect
Five minutes later, Noelle’s name popped up on my screen.This call I could take.
“Hey.”
“You’re alive.”
I settled back into the nest I made on the couch.“I am.”
“I’ll report back.”
Taking another sip of my coffee, I asked, “How did they find out?”
“Paul came by the resort to check on you.”
For a second, I simply froze.Mortified.I closed my eyes.“What a douche.”
“Too bad he hadn’t been that solicitous when you were together.”
“Right?He came by this morning?So early?”
“Yesterday afternoon.Dan and Lou gave you exactly fifteen hours to yourself before they decided you’d had enough space.They were aiming for twelve but thought a five a.m.phone call would be one tiny step too far.You should be grateful for their enormous restraint.”
I snorted.“Did she enact an emergency phone tree?”
“When she couldn’t get through to you, she enlisted Hawk.He enlisted me.”
“I was sleeping for at least eight of those hours.”
That was a lie.I tossed and turned all night, flipping through the pages of our story, wondering at what point I missed the plot twist.
“Still.I think they did pretty good,” Noelle exclaimed.“Dan and Lou are not known for giving their kids space.”
I giggled.“I can’t believe Hawkley called.What was he going to say to me?”
“I think he’s looking for permission to beat Paul half to death.He’s furious.”
“Ah, it’s okay.We both know I’m better off without him.And he’s obviously better off without me.”
“He never deserved you.You’re twice the man he is.”
Outwardly, I laughed.Inside?I cringed.Because wasn’t that the problem in the end?That I was too independent?That I didn’t need him enough?
“Are you still coming tonight?”
I squeezed my eyes shut.It was just my rotten luck that Noelle and Hawkley had invited all of us to their place for a potluck.
“Yup,” I chirped.“I’ll be there with bells on.”
After convincing Noelle no further intervention was required, I opened my e-reader.But reading the same line four times convinced me to give up and open my Instagram feed instead.There had to be a clue somewhere among the pictures of us to explain what happened.
I thought we were happy.Well, not that last year.That I thought was growing pains.Until freaking Daire and Hawkley called me on it.
How mortifying to have your teenage crush, a man who set panties on fire simply by breathing, point out that your boyfriend treated you like trash?
I didn’t even think Hawk and Daire liked one another all that much back then, but they joined forces over Paul.
I mean, Daire seemed to like Hawkley just fine.Hawkley?He had his guard up.But then, Hawkley only ever dropped his guard for a select few.
And rarely fully.
