Page 85 of Off the Wall
Cash shakes his head. “It won’t work.”
I reach for his hand now. I felt his kiss. I tasted his lips. I can tell in my soul he feels the same way I do. “I know you think you don’t have time for relationships, but you’ve made plenty of time for me lately. So we can figure something out.” I swallow. “We just have to try. Either way”—my eyes sting with hopeful tears—“I don’t want to be with anybody else. Please.”
“Nori.” He blows out a long breath. “I’m moving to LA.” He gulps. “Next month.”
And that’s when the floor drops out from under me, and my heart plummets.
Like an elevator.
Chapter Thirty-One
Cash
Nori’s mouth hangs open,and she presses a hand to her chest for a beat. Two beats. Three. Then she arranges her face into a shaky smile, and whisper-squeaks, “I’m so happy for you.” Still, the light goes out of her eyes. One minute ago, she was in my arms, face turned up, lips parted and breathless. She seemed almost joyful. And I pickedthatmoment to come clean with her.
Idiot.
“I’m so … I’m so, so sorry,” I stammer, hating myself. “I would’ve told you sooner, but?—”
“No, no, no.” She takes a step backward and offers a small shake of her head. “You tried to tell me, I just got caught up in the moment and kept gushing on and on about trying to make something work between us.” Her mouth succumbs to a tremble, and my insides shrivel. “I knew the West Coast territory was your dream. I just didn’t know it would happen so quickly. Anyway, I have my own dream. I’m about to make Serendipi-Tea a reality. And it’s like you said. I can’t risk breaking the Swipe Rite contract.” She squares her shoulders,her gaze lasered in on mine. “So let’s just pretend this never happened, okay?”
I shift my jaw. “But?—”
“Please don’t turn this into something it wasn’t supposed to be.” Her eyes go soft, pleading with me. “We’re a whole hand now, right?” She lifts a palm, waving it at me, and pressing out the saddest laugh I’ve ever heard. “So let’s be friends.” Her gaze drifts back up to mine. “And you should definitely still come to the wedding.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Hayden’s expecting you,” she rushes to say. “More importantly, her mom is. And you donotwant to disappoint Mrs. King.Idon’t want to be the reason anyone’s disappointed. Ever.” Nori hitches her shoulders. Swallows. “Besides. The surf and turf will be way better than the cold pepperoni and olive pizza I just?—”
“Nori—”
“So I’ll see you at the Terrace on Saturday,” she exclaims, with forced brightness. “I’ll be the one in the ugly pink dress.” She spins on a heel, fleeing down the hall, and the farther she gets from me, the faster my guts unspool.
Let’s be friends.
The image of her retreating to her apartment haunts me for the next twenty-four hours, and I keep praying a case will come up and prevent me from going to Hayden’s wedding.
Instead I get a text from Nori on Friday night.
Nori
I’m at the rehearsal dinner. Hayden wants me to tell you she hopes you can still come to the wedding. I agree with her. For the record, I’m fine. Everything’s totally, completely fine.
I don’t believe her.
Or maybe I just don’t want to believe Nori’s totally, completely fine. Maybe I want to think she’s not quite ready to let go of the idea of us.I’mnot quite ready to let go of the idea of us.
So against my better judgment, I put on my best suit and show up at the Spring Garden Terrace hoping to make a weird situation a little less … weird.
Also? I need to apologize to Nori again. In person.
For the record, her pink dress is anything but ugly. The silky material drapes along her curves, like every inch was custom stitched to her body. The fabric is the same shade her cheeks turn whenever she blushes. Her dark hair is swept up in a twist with tendrils loose along her neck.
As if she feels me studying her, Nori casts a glance my way, her smile frozen in place. My heart stutters. I’ve never seen a human being look more beautiful than she does right now.
The wedding party’s just finishing their photo shoot, which I’ve been watching from a spot under a shady sugar maple. Nori plays along, grinning at the camera, shuffling in and out of the frame, while the photographer takes pictures with every possible combination of people. Bride with her bridesmaids. Groomsmen with the groom.
Maid of honor with the best man.
