Page 89 of Bad Love

What also hasn't gone away is the promise he made.An entire nighttogether.

He might’ve forgotten it, but to me, it looms larger everyday.

Because aside from the improbable logistics—there's no way I'd have that kind of time without Rory, and we’re not doing that while he’s there—spending the whole night with Logan would change me in a way I'm not readyfor.

We finish getting ready and take the train to my parents’ place. When we get there, it's afternoon.

As I expected, my mom lights up when she sees Rory. They talk about school and food and his hobbies. She asks what he wants for his birthday, and I curse silently. I’ve had his gift for months, but with everything going on, I haven’t yet planned a special meal or anythingelse.

Guilt works through me, and I’m still making quick plans for how I can remedy that when then there’s a knock at the door. I go to answer but pull up short when the door swings wide on itsown.

Blake walks in, grinning. “Hey,babe.”

He walks past me as I’m frozen to the tile in thekitchen.

I whirl and stalk after him, cutting a look at my mother on the couch, who’s too busy smiling like Oprah after arranging some kind of familyreunion.

I grab Blake’s arm and drag him to the front hall. “What are you doing here? We were going to come see youafter.”

“I got an invitation for tea.” He looksoblivious.

It’s not that I have a problem with Blake seeing his son. But I have a problem with him thinking he’s entitled to do whatever he wants. "You can’t just bargein.”

“No barging.” He points to his chest. “Invited.”

I bite my tongue. “Just stop. He’s okay with the idea of seeingyou—”

“Okay? Man, you really hypedthis…”

I ignore him. “But I want to understand your intentions thistime.”

"My intentions with him or with you?" The smile that pulls at his lips used to charm me, but now I shake my head. "You ever think of coming back? Your parents would loveit."

My hands fold into fists at mysides.

"When we split, you were still a kid. I was too,” he says. “Now… there's something different about you. You'reconfident.”

Surprise works through me. "Blake—"

"We had a good thing. We couldagain."

I glance down the hall toward the living room. "I have the best part of you. I don't need anythingelse.”

Blake shakes his head. “I get it. It’ll taketime.”

Whatever.

“Fine, come in. But we have to leave to catch the train back to the city atfour."

Blake shakes his head as if I’m overreacting, but he goes back to the livingroom.

I hover out of view, doing dishes in the kitchen and tidying while I listen to my parents, Blake, and Rorytalk.

My eyes flick to the clock, and by the time every surface sparkles, I can’t do itanymore.

I yank my phone from my bag and duck down the back hall toward the laundryroom.

I hit a contact on my phone and bite my lip as the ringtonesounds.

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