She seesthe message but doesn’t reply.
So I sent her another message.
Heath:You looked beautiful today, Rose. You always do.
It’s thenthe dots appear on the screen and a few seconds later her reply comes.
Hope:Um, thanks.
Heath: I mean it.
Hope: I know.
Heath: You are terrible at taking compliments.
Hope: That’s because no one’s ever given to me.
My heart squeezesat that sentence.
Fuck. There’s so many things she hasn’t experienced. Simple things that matter.
Heath:That was before me.
Hope seesthe message and goes quiet.
She’s busy blushing.
That damn red blush.
It does things to me.
My phone pings.
Sebastian:You can come in, asshole.
What the fuck?How am I the asshole?
He’s the one who ditched me to have sex with his girlfriend. As if he isn’t done the deed a thousand times. Fortunately, he has a brain cell to use protection and be careful.
I’m too young to become an uncle.
I march down the hallway and enter his place using the key he’s given me.
Sebastian is in trousers and t-shirt and is lounging on the couch with Coca Cola cans on the coffee table and a bunch of snacks. He lights up when he sees me and I flip him the finger.
A sweet sound of humming floats out of the kitchen and pulls my attention. Marie is wearing trousers and one of Sebastian’s sweatshirts—thank God she’s dressed decent—and is stirring something in the pot on the stove.
Sensing my gaze she looks over and wave. “Heath!”
There’s too much enthusiasm in her voice.
“Blondie,” I nod.
“How are you?”
I arch an eyebrow. “We just saw each other a couple of hours ago at school.”
“I know.”
