Page 25 of Play With Me
I round the corner at the landing at the same time as a pint-sized blonde woman appears above us. She’s wearing heels that look like they could kill a man, but she smiles warmly.
“Nora!” The woman throws her arms around Nora like she’s been away at sea.
“Hi, Sasha,” Nora says, looking happy to see her.
Suddenly, my mood jumps up. This is a new friend of Nora’s. Someone from this version of her life. I realize how desperately I need Nora to remember I’m not just the asshole who showed up all wounded on her doorstep. That I’m a fun guy. A person people like.
The woman’s eyes dance down to me. I’ve been moving slowly, but now I’m caught up, halting a couple of steps below Nora’s peachy butt.
I smile widely. “Hello.”
The woman—Sasha—smiles curiously back at me. “Nora, I think we’re in this man’s way—”
“We’re together,” I say, cheerfully. “You a friend of Nora’s?”
The woman’s eyes widen. She’s pretty, with freckles across her little nose, which has a small crook in it. She’s kind of intense though. “Areyoua friend of Nora’s?”
“I hope so.”
Nora’s hand grips tight to the banister. “Sasha, meet Jude.”
“Wait,Jude-Jude?”
So she knows about me. I grin, my mood finally shifting back to my normal stasis point. Nora talked about me with her friends. “That’s me.”
“Sasha Macklin!” The bubbly woman thrusts out her hand, then sees mine are occupied. “Oh my goodness!” She lowers her voice. “I amsopleased to meet you! Nora didn’t tell me you were in town! And your little boy! I’ve heard so much about you both.”
Nora’s jaw is tight, her cheeks pink. She’s embarrassed.
I love it.
“Well, I think I’m fine now, Jude,” Nora says abruptly. “I’ll call you tomorrow. Let you know if I can fit you into my schedule.”
Game.
I bite my cheek, knowing this is a little callback to our fight. It’s fine, I deserve it.
Part of me likes this new, more assertive version of her. But I miss the silly version of her too. Nowhere is that big dimply grin she used to give me—the one I never saw her give anyone else. So if I can’t have that, I can at least play with her a little.
“I’d feel better if we saw you inside.”
Nora purses her lips. I love that, too.
Sasha goes around my other side to look at Cap’s face and presses her hand over her mouth. “He’s so precious,” she whispers when she comes back around. “God, you two must miss Nora, huh? She’s incredible, isn’t she?” She beams at Nora, who grows even pinker.
“She is,” I agree, solemnly. And we do.
Nora’s eyes meet mine and her mouth opens slightly. Something fizzes in my guts at that.She can’t see you, dumbass.
“So,” Sasha said, her eyes going between the two of us. Clearly, she’s picked up on the tension. They land on me. “How long are you two here for?”
“Just a week.”
“Nora, you didn’t tell me!”
“Jude and Cap made a surprise visit,” Nora says before I can answer. “They’re just seeing me to the door because I lost my glasses at the library.”
Sasha’s blocking the door to the hallway.
