Was she going to hang up on him? And then he heard her sigh. “Elliot? Why? Why are you calling me now?”
“Did you tear up my check?” She didn’t sound very grateful, or like a woman who missed him.
“Of course not. That would be stupid.”
“So why haven’t you cashed it?”
“Don’t you get it? Because… that would make me… cheap.”
“Cashing a check for one hundred thousand dollars would make you feel cheap?” He asked incredulously, still not understanding her. Except he’d wanted to do something for her. He’d wanted to do something little that could make her life easier.
“Exactly. Elliot, I work hard. I make my own money and even though I don’t always pay everything on time, I, well, I– I’m proud that I’m taking care of things. I’m proud that I can take care of my sister, something my mom could never quite do.”
“But you still have it. Will you please just put it in an account somewhere, hang onto it for a rainy day?”
Silence.
“It’s in my jewelry box. If I need it, it’s there.”
At least there was that. But now that he had her on the phone, he didn’t want to let her go. “I miss you.”
He’d said it.
He barely knew her but that didn’t seem to matter.
Although they’d shared a lot that night, neither had mentioned anything about their feelings. Both of them had followed some modern code that if they hooked up neither would have any expectations… after.
And then he heard her sniff. At least he thought that was what it was. “Elliot.” She half cried when she said his name. “I can’t do this. I know this isn’t cool, and you’ll probably think I’m crazy, but, forgetting you… letting go of this… has been really hard. And I’m sorry if you’re bored, or feeling nostalgic right now, but I can’t do this. I just… can’t.”
And then the line was dead.
He thrummed his fingers on the table now. And then went back to his phone. This time, he hit message.
I’m not bored, he tapped in and then sent the text.
And I don’t think you’re crazy.
He waited.
Noel:I’m sorry I didn’t say goodbye.
He’d been mad at the time. But now, he understood.
He remembered how he’d felt in that room after she’d abandoned him. Was that how she felt when he left Colorado?
He glanced around his apartment. Black, lots of stainless steel, clean lines, tall endless windows.
I’m sorry I did.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Noel tried forgettingabout the call, and his cryptic text. What did he mean, he was sorry he did? And then nothing.
That had been yesterday. And now she was gonna have to try to forget him all over again. Damn him!
Damn him.
She nearly started sobbing as she stuffed the cash from her bank into the register drawer. Everywhere she looked invoked some memory of those two days she’d known him. And now she couldn’t even look at her phone without unsettling emotion washing over her again.
