Page 24 of Love Rescheduled

Josh’s face turned a shade of red I didn’t know was possible. “Damn it, Nat, you know I never cheated on you. Never even thought about it. You’re the one who walked out. Not me.”

I couldn’t contain my emotions. Tears filled my eyes, guilt consumed my soul, and an ache so deep pierced me and shattered my heart. “And you told me if I did, there was no coming back. So, why are you here?”

He dropped his arms along with his defenses. “Because for three years I’ve been kicking myself for not opening that door.”

I didn’t dare tell him I had watched and waited for the handle to turn. Or that I had begged myself over and over to walk back through the door. “You did the right thing,” I said, half-heartedly.

“I don’t think so, and deep down you don’t either.”

I sat up stiffly. “You’re wrong. I did what was best for you and me.”

He shook his head. “I don’t believe that for one second, and neither do you.”

“Will you please quit telling me what I do and don’t believe? It’s obvious we don’t work. You blindsided me on Friday night, and now it’s all over social media. Do you know what that’s doing to me?”

He hung his head. “I know. I didn’t know what to do. I thought I would never see you again, and there you were. I couldn’t let you get away.”

“If you wanted to talk, you know where I live. You could have even called.”

“Well, I’m here now, so let’s talk.”

I knew talking would be futile. His life wasn’t going to magically change, and neither was mine. “Josh, please go,” I begged. “I have a schedule to keep here, and I have a date with a doctor on Wednesday.”

“Does he know about your ridiculous plan?”

“Who says it’s ridiculous?” Besides me. Alec had said sometimes the most ludicrous ideas have bettered humanity. Why not this one?

“Everyone.”

I shrugged. “Well, there you have it. I’m a lunatic, so you best be off.”

“I see what you’re doing, and it won’t work. I’m staying.”

There were conflicting feelings coursing through me. A part of me loved that he still wanted me and was willing to fight for what we had lost. The other part of me was astonished and exasperated beyond belief at his tenacity. It’s terrible manners to show up at your ex’s house and invite yourself to stay. Especially when I had men to date and fall in love with. Josh was going to put a real damper on my plan. “Don’t you need to get back to LA? I heard you’re about to sign a big contract. Is that for a movie or TV show?”

The blood drained out of his face. “Who told you that?”

“Zac,” I hissed his name. “He warned me not to screw it up. I have no intention of doing so.”

“He shouldn’t have said anything.”

“Why? It doesn’t change the reality of the situation. I’m proud of you, Josh. Except when you lambasted me and used me as a punchline. But sincerely, I am. You deserve all the good coming your way. It’s what you’ve worked so hard for. So, go back to LA. Don’t look back,” my stupid voice hitched.

“I never want to see you in the rearview mirror again.” He paused, I assumed for me to respond.

It rendered me speechless. What a beautiful thing to say, except he was supposed to leave me in the dust. The dust I had already swept away and made peace with.

“I’m going to go hop in the shower,” he casually said, as if he hadn’t just rocked my entire well-ordered world. “See you later, honey.” He smirked before walking off.

Ugh. I rested my head on the desk, feeling all sorts of out of control. How dare the man still love me? This was supposed to be an unrequited love thing on my part. I planned it that way. And gosh darn it, it was going to stay that way. No famous men ever again.

“ALEC, STOP LAUGHING. I’M PAYING you to help me, not find pleasure in the crazy events of my life.” I had just explained the sticky situation I had going on over here. I was currently hiding in my bedroom listening to my ex sing “Love to Love You Baby” by Donna Summer in my kitchen while making his lunch. This was after he paraded around in nothing but a towel while throwing a load of his laundry in the washing machine. I knew his duffel bag was full of dirty clothes. Did I peek at his chest? Yes. Was it still beautiful with just the right amount of definition and dark hair? Also, yes.

Alec cleared his throat, trying to stop his fits of laughter, but his chuckles kept escaping. “I’m sorry; it’s just … you can’t make this stuff up.” He wasn’t wrong. Tara was going to get a lot of new material out of this for her next book. She and Jolene were going to die when I told them Josh was refusing to leave. I hadn’t had the chance yet, as I couldn’t believe this was happening to me.

“What do I do?” I whined while grabbing a pillow from my bed, where I had nestled myself. Josh was throwing my entire life into chaos. I was supposed to be at my kitchen table, where I always talked to Alec.

“Why are you asking me that question?” Alec tossed back at me. “The better question is, what do you want to do?”

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