Page 34 of Timelessly Ours
She nods vigorously and hiccups. “It would have been nice.” She scans me. “But you’re okay…”
“I am.”
“I guess we all made it worse by assuming the worst, huh?” she asks, wiping away a tear.
“No, honey. I would have thought the same thing if it was the other way around. I’m so sorry I made you worry.” I grip her hand meaning the next words more than I’ve ever meant anything else. “Thank you so much for being my friend. For worrying. For shedding these tears for me. I can honestly say, no one’s ever done that for me.”
She chuckles as she swipes them away. “Well, you’re welcome.” Her head bobs again and she looks at me. “I love that you’re here. I think this is perfect for you.”
I laugh. “Are you kidding? I think your dad just feels sorry for me.”
“No. You’re great with Rory. I think you’re exactly what she needs.”
“Angel, you got any to-go cups here?” Cora calls from the kitchen.
“Far left cabinet.” The voice that makes my stomach flip comes from the bottom of the stairs.
“Dad!”
“Hey, sweety.” He frowns. “Everything alright here?”
I hold up my hands. “I swear she came in tears. I didn’t do this.” I point to her red face.
Angel chuckles. “I’m better now.” She crosses to him and lifts her toes to kiss his cheek. “Thanks, Dad. I think this is perfect for her.”
“Still in the room,” I say, grabbing my iced coffee and standing to leave them alone.
“No, stay.” Angel reaches for my arm and pulls me to stand with the two of them. “Tell me, how did this happen? Nick was all grumpy about it on the phone, he didn’t give us a chance to ask any questions.”
I look to Royce for help and he doesn’t miss a beat. But it’s what he says that was unexpected.
“Don’t thank me. Nicole is the real hero here. Rory needs someone constant in her life. She needs routine. And next to you…Nicole was the next best thing. I’m just relieved she accepted.” His eyes are on me and I get the hint that he wants me to truly believe it.
“I can’t reach it.” Cora's strained voice calls from the kitchen.
My tall friend sighs. “Be right there.” She nudges my shoulder. “Thank you for not hating me.” After another quick squeeze, she leaves us. At least I think she does, because I can’t see anything but Royce.
His gaze is soft. “You doing okay?”
“That was…very generous of you.”
“To offer you a job?”
“To call me a hero. I know it’s just a cover—but a little bit of a stretch, no?”
He tears his eyes from mine. “Think what you will, but I do believe I’m getting the better end of the deal here.”
And that’s all he says before he walks away.
That crack in his wall now seamlessly repaired.
I’m in the kitchen busying myself over chores after the girls leave. Royce hasn’t given me any actual chores around the house but I can’t just sit around and do nothing. I’ll end up thinking. That’s never good for anyone.
Still, while my hands are in the sink, my mind goes back to my friends and what seemed to be an endless array of apologies, gnawing at my guilt.
I hate lying—I’m good at it. Or at least I used to be, but I hate it. I’m going straight to hell for lying to my brother and making Angel cry when she was one hundred percent right for not trusting me.
And Cora—I swear that girl knew something was up and leveled it up a notch just to fuck with me. She was always smarter than she led on.
