“Mmm. Tell me, how is this project going?”
“Great, actually. Aside from a few signatures, it’s as good as sealed.”
“How wonderful,” she says, her tone telling me she thinks it’s anything but.
I’m about ready to excuse myself and run for whatever shelter Noah is hiding behind when she continues.
“I heard there might have been some trouble with one of the contracts, so I was curious. Not that I don’t think you are capable of doing your job, of course. You just never know how the relationships are going to fare when there is trouble brewing.”
Given the way her and Noah’s circle encompasses both social and professional connections, it makes sense she might be aware of tensions, but her showing up today and casually mentioning the tabloid disaster that led to us being here in the first place is suddenly less of a coincidence. The images from my social media stalking come flashing back as the pieces hover just above clicking into place. I wrestle my way through names and faces, trying to make it fit. It’s clear she’s still in contact with Brad, but what purpose would he have in sending her to meet up with Noah again?
I open my mouth to see how much I can get her to spill when Noah steps up to join us again.
“My apologies.”
“No worries,” Megan chimes. “We ladies were just getting to know each other. Everything okay?”
“Yes.”
Everything about Noah is stiff—cool and collected but Megan is either oblivious or she’s making a hell of an effort at not letting it bother her.
“Don’t tell me you’ve got more work to do. Surely you’ve got time for a quick bite? Charlotte was just telling me how great you’re doing up in Portland and I’d love to hear more about it. You’ve gotta eat, right?”
The invitation is one sided at best, my participation notably not mandatory. I’m not sure what prompts me, whether it’s a thread of self sabotage in the face of the beautiful and elusive ex, or a push for the boundaries I’d been ready to force before she walked up, but my response is out before I can think better of it.
“We’ve actually been discussing how free our afternoon is turning out to be.” Facing Noah, I lift my hand to shield the sun and his frown as I continue. “You should go. Catch up. I can scrounge up something here, and find my way into being useful for Cheryl.”
He quirks his head, ever so slightly before challenging my attempted dismissal. “It wouldn’t be right to leave you here.”
“It’s fine really. You saw the way Cheryl was this morning. I should go check in on her. I’m sure she’ll have something for me to do. Have fun, I’ll see you later.”
Before he can respond, I turn to Megan and step out of the range of his hand. “It was nice meeting you Megan. Take care.”
“You too,” she says, already looking through me at Noah.
I step past them and let myself melt into the crowd as her voice needles, sickly sweet and edging on a whine.
“Come on, enjoy the afternoon. There is a great cafe in town. I’ll buy.”
I’m too far away to hear his response, but by the time I make it to Cheryl's side, Noah hasn’t caught up and it’s clear he gave in.
It’s late when he gets back.
All afternoon I regretted sending him off. My own shit aside, it was clear he was uncomfortable and I shouldn’t have pressed. Even a friend wouldn’t do that. But then, Kara aside, I’ve always been a shitty friend.
Helping Cheryl kept my mind focused elsewhere, but every chance I got, I was pulling my phone out and checking to see if Noah had texted or called. I don’t know what I was hoping for—the thought of him calling for me to come rescue him filled me with dread as much as it gave me a sliver of hope.
But he didn’t.
I’m lying in bed, staring at the ceiling when the car door shuts. Rolling over, I face the window and keep my back to the hall. I’m not sure what I expect him to do, but when the bedroomdoor swings open, light from the hallway cutting across the wall, my heartbeat is in my ears.
“Lottie?”
I want to ignore him. Want to pretend like I’m asleep and haven’t been waiting up. It’s what cool and casual Lottie would do. She would be sleeping peacefully, ignorant to the way Noah’s presence makes her heart flutter. She wouldn’t be so conflicted and she certainly wouldn’t be rolling over to face him as he waits.
“Hi.”
He sighs, crossing into the room and sinking into the chair by the window. I sit up in bed, keeping a pool of blanket in my lap and twirling the edge of it between my fingers.
