“What about Meghan?” I ask, still trying to wrap my head around the idea of Cal leaving.
“She said she’s fine with it. Especially because it means Cal can’t keep ‘shacking up with his neighbor.’”
“She said that?” I gasp, my head snapping toward her.
Beth nods. “That’s what Cal told Nate.”
“She’s going to let them go,” I say, mostly to myself, the weight of it hitting all over again.
“You’re letting them go too,” Beth says quietly.
“It’s complicated,” I murmur, my mind spinning. He’s really leaving.
“Love is only complicated when it’s one-sided.”
I smile and give her a side glance. “And what do you know about love?”
She smirks. “Okay, nothing yet. But that’s what Cal told Mom and Dad. He said it’s complicated because what he feels for you isn’t returned. But I know that’s not true.”
There’s a beat of silence before I say it, softly but without hesitation.
“I do. I love him.”
"Then don't let them leave," she says. "And don't say it's complicated."
***
The front door slams shut with a sharp crack, and I hear footsteps barreling down the hall. I barely have time to look up before Tina storms into the office, her purse flying onto the armchair like it personally offended her.
“What happened?” I ask, rising from the desk. “Are you okay?”
She spins around, eyes blazing. “No I'm not okay. I just met Nate Callahan.”
My stomach sinks. “Was it that bad?”
“That’s putting it mildly,” she says. “He was lurking around the porch at Cal’s house. I thought he was casing the place. So naturally, I got out of the car and marched over there, ready to confront him. I was polite at first, but then he had the nerve to look me dead in the eye and say, ‘And you are?’”
I cover my mouth to keep from laughing. “Oh no…”
“That’s exactly what I said—oh, heck no. So I snapped back, ‘Who am I? Who the heck are you?’ And we just stood there, glaring at each other. He’s tall, broad, and strong, but he wasn’t about to stare me down.”
“Oh my gosh,” I murmur.
“And then,” she continues, pacing now, “I tell him he’s giving off major peeping tom energy, and this man—a complete stranger—actually laughs. So I pulled out my phone.”
I blink. “You were about to call the cops on Nate?”
“Yes! And right when I’m about to hit dial, Beth opens the door.”
“Oh no…”
“Oh yes. She opens the door, sees us mid-standoff, and casually says, ‘Hi, Nate.’ I turned to Beth as it quickly dawned on me that I had made a colossal mistake. Then she goes, ‘Oh, have you two met?’ and Nate says, ‘I haven’t had the pleasure.’ Beth introduced me, and instead ofshaking my hand, he folded his arms tightly across his chest.”
I press my lips together, trying to keep a straight face. “Please tell me you apologized.”
“I was going to!” Tina says, placing a hand on her chest like she’s deeply wounded. “I was going to, Elle. But then he turns to me and says—get this—‘I'm really glad we were able to establish who actually belongs here.’” She crosses her arms and glares at nothing. “Like I was the one intruding in his space.”
I gasp. “He didn't.”
