Page 82 of No More Heartbreakers

“So… it’s about your career then?”

I hesitated. I almost owned up to my attraction to Aric, but then I chickened out. And I rationalized there was no reason to hurt Hale by telling him I wasn’tdyingwithout him, that my feelings for him just weren’t what they’re supposed to be when you’ve consider marrying someone.

“Yes, my career and the dreams I’ve always had of traveling, doing something exciting with my life, meeting new people, seeing new things.”

He nodded and leaned down over me, wrapping his arms around me in a good-bye hug.

Burying his face in my neck, he said in a low murmur, “Well, I don’t want to hold you back. But this time apart has shown me some things, too. I’ve missed you. And I wish...”

“Oh. I didn’t realize you were still here.” Aric’s deep voice echoed off the foyer’s walls and high ceiling.

Hale and I sprang apart, him with obvious irritation at having been interrupted, and me with wet eyes and awkward stuttering.

“Hale was, uh, just leaving.”

“Yeah. Me, too.” Aric’s tone was brusque. “Good to see you again, Hale. Heidi—I’ll see you at work.”

He brushed past us and left, closing the door forcefully behind him.

Hale looked at the door then at me. “In case you don’t realize it—the guy’s way into you.”

I shook my head, not wanting to talk about it. I still didn’t feel the need to explain my relationship with Aric to Hale since, (A) it wasn’t leading to anything permanent, and (B) there was no need to burden Hale with it when Aric wasn’t the cause of our breakup, and (C) I was a total coward.

“He’s a good guy. We get along well… at work.”

“Right,” Hale said, not quite convinced.

The game must have ended, based on the increase in family chatter headed our way. He glanced toward the den then back at me.

“Well, I’d better go. There’s more to be said, but we’ll talk another time. Goodnight, Heidi.” He brushed a quick kiss across my cheek, opened the door, and stepped outside.

And I said goodnight to the second guy to walk out of my life that night. In Aric’s case, I hoped it wouldn’t be permanent.

Not yet.

TWENTY-ONE

Say It

When a knock came on my apartment’s front door at just before midnight, I was relieved to see Aric through the peephole.

He hadn’t answered his phone earlier, and I’d been fretting over how he’d interpreted the foyer scene with Hale.

I opened the door with a smile. “Hi.”

No smile from Aric.

“Did you even call about the Nashville job?” he asked, still standing in the breezeway of my building.

“What?”

“The Nashville job.”

Aric finally stepped inside but left the door open and stood glowering down at me.

“Did you bother to call Sky? Or were you ever planning to tell me you’re going to just re-sign your contract and stay here? You haven’t gone ononeinterview.”

Why was he railing at me about my tardy job search efforts? And why on earth was this top-of-mind for him at ten-till-twelve on a Monday night?

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