Blitz glanced at him and sighed, nails clicking on the tile as she trotted down the hallway, apparently as disgusted with him as he was with himself.His hands trembled as he peeled the socks from his feet.If he thought for a second that Natalie that would change her mind—
Please don’t follow me against my will.
God, the look in her eyes, almost like she’d been resigned to him not listening to her.Like maybe she was too used to the men in her life letting her down.His gut twisted.No matter how much he wanted to help, it was her choice.Balling up the socks, he tossed them into the bathroom where they landed with aplop.His shirt followed.
Blitz scampered over to him and then hopped away, holding her mouth oddly.
He reached out.“Whatcha got there, B?”
She jerked her head out of reach, and went down on her front paws, butt in the air like a yogi.
“Blitz,sit.” He pointed at the floor, definitely not in the mood to play.When she sat, he said, “Drop it.”
She spat out a wad of paper onto one of the towels.
He grabbed the crumpled page and opened it flat, his pulse jumping at the sight of Natalie’s bold, looping handwriting.
Ford— I don’t like goodbyes, and I was afraid if you tried to talk me out of leaving that I wouldn’t be able to resist.And not just because of the killer sex.
She’d drawn a little smiley face, and he could imagine her giving him an exaggerated wink and laughing in her playful way.His stomach churned.Looking back down at the scrawled words, he forced his fingers to relax so he wouldn’t crush the paper.
And because the Universe has a perverse sense of humor, I did something ridiculous.I went and fell in love with you.
Ford’s breath fled.She loved him?
Unfortunately, there was more.
My bad.I know that’s the last thing you want, and that you’ll never feel the same.It’s fine.We already agreed we’re not compatible.At.All.
He wanted to vehemently reject the sentiment, but hadn’t he had those exact thoughts only moments ago?Before he’d been forced to face the truth, to face his own cowardice.
Even though common sense said the two of them together shouldn’t work, they somehow did.Nat forced Ford—or maybeallowedhim—to loosen up a little, in much the way his brother had when he was alive.She’d gotten him to laugh and smile more than anyone since Con.Her similarly brazen nature also scared the hell out of him, but unlike his brother, she did occasionally listen to Ford’s concerns for her safety and heed his warnings.He’d had an impact on her too.
All he’d ever wanted to do was keep her safe and whole.But not because he’d been hired to do so.He could admit that to himself now.
Thanks for taking care of me, and watching out for me.And showing me your O face.
She’d drawn a heart-eyed smiley.Heat rushed to his cheeks and he shook his head.Jesus.She was shameless.
And he was smiling again.Until he reached the next section.
Sorry I’m not brave enough to say all of this in person.If things go well, you—and the rest of the world—will know where I am soon enough.Give Henri a hug for me.Take care of yourself.
Love, Nat
Ford stood frozen, his mind reeling from the whiplash.He should’ve recognized that she’d had all of her walls up before she left.After all, he was the expert in building them.If he’d let down his own guard and told her how he really felt—assuming he’d figured it out in time—would she have walked out just now?
He had to go after her.
But he’d explicitly agreed he wouldn’t.
Goddammit.He was such a fool.
Through the door, a sharp cry echoed off the walls.Was that—
Blitz barked.
Heart hammering, Ford yanked open the heavy door and raced toward the stairs.
