Page 122 of Just the Wrong Twin
“Then I’ll come. And you both drive carefully.” His mom caught him in a hug again. “Goodness, Nate, I was worried about that girl,” she whispered.
“No need, Mom. I’ve learned my lesson.” He got into the truck with Troll, having had his offer to drive declined. Troll honked and they waved, then headed north. It was getting dark now but there was less traffic.
But had he learned his lesson? Falling for Sonia was not a sign of Nate making better choices.
He hoped the Cinnamon Bun appreciated her.
* * *
“He did what?”Sonia demanded when Diane called her late Saturday night. She was still at Tobias’ place. Pierce had brought the take-out Thai from the lobby and told her that her parents had headed straight for the airport. He figured they’d be out of town shortly but insisted he would wait. It was a couple of hours later and she was sitting with Tobias and Katia, chatting over the leftovers.
Tobias made no effort to hide his interest in Sonia’s conversation.
“He walked away from her. She left,” Diane said with satisfaction. “You were wrong and I was right.”
“But he was supposed to be in love with her. I’m sure he’s in love with her. He had her name tattooed on his arm and he has her picture in his wallet.”
“Maybe he loved her once but not anymore,” Diane said. “Trish was pretty mad when she left, from what I heard, so that door is closed forever.”
“Why would Nate do that?”
“She wasn’t there for him, you know. That had to burn.”
“But I was positive.” Nate had told her that he loved Trish.
Had he misled her?
Why would he do that?
“Everyone makes mistakes,” Diane said. “Let me know if you change your mind about the book deal.”
Sonia ended the call but sat looking at her phone.
“Were you meddling?” Tobias asked, his tone playful. “You should know that I have a problem with people who meddle.”
“Being one yourself,” Katia teased.
“Because you live with one,” Sonia guessed and they all laughed.
“There’s nothing wrong with wanting what’s best for someone. The problem comes when you don’t pay attention to their thoughts and feelings.”
Sonia looked up. “What does that mean?”
Tobias nodded wisely. “You didn’t see your guy’s face when Nick turned up.”
Sonia put down her phone. “What did I miss?”
Tobias took a fortune cookie. He wiggled it, offering it to Sonia, and she shook his head. He cracked it, taking way too long about that, and she knew he was messing with her. “You missed the look of a man witnessing the loss of the only thing he wants.”
“I don’t understand.”
“He loves you. He thinks you love Nick. He stepped back so you could have what he thought you wanted. It’s the classic choice of a hero, and actually, that’s pretty much what you just tried to do for him.” He nodded approval. “I like the balance of that.”
“Katia said you don’t understand anything about the choices people make, even though she thinks you should.”
Tobias gave her an intent look. “Consider the source.”
“Hey!” Katia said.
