I can't stopthe smile that spreads across my face as I reread the horoscope that Maverick sent me this morning.
Chloe: Done! I’m almost to The Den. I’ll meet you there?
Maverick: How’d it go?! I’ll be there in 5.
Chloe: Crushed it.
Maverick: Of course you did. The rest of those chumps never stood a chance against you.
The trees lining the sidewalk up to the coffee shop have started to shed their leaves. A crisp brown one floats down ahead of me and I breathe in deep, tucking my hands into my fuzzy coat pockets. I'm having one of thoseperfect moments. One where everything just feels right. There’s no reason for it. No explanation. Just a small perfect pocket of peace.
The doors to The Den are covered in window markers, cheering on the Linden Creek hockey team. I recognize Savannah’s fancy script and the extra attention to detail she put on the number thirty-three. I stand a second longer than necessary with my hand on the door, taking in all the numbers, until I find the number sixteen. My lips twist as I try to hide an overly giddy grin. My hand is still on the brass handle when someone pushes the door open from the inside.
I stagger back a step, opening my mouth, ready to apologize when Nathan’s eyes find mine, smiling like he’s genuinely happy to see me. And for the first time in as far back as I can remember…I don’t have the same reaction.
“Hey you. What are you doing here?” He takes a step closer, causing me to take another step away from the door.
“I just finished my interview for the TA position,” I say with an over-animated tilt of my head.
“Nice.”
Nice.Yes, the interview for the job I’ve been talking about for the last year of my life isnice. I’m not surprised by his response. If anything, it’s kind of predictable. Nathan doesn’t think twice about anyone or anything besides himself. When I look at him now, and realize that I’m not disappointed by his lack of interest in my future, I count that as both growth and a win.
“Yeah. Nice.” I force a smile before nodding to the door behind him. “Well, I’m going to go get some coffee, but I’ll see you around.”
“Wait.” He grabs a hold of my shoulder, effectively stopping me, and moves to stand in between me and the door again. His eyes trail down the top half of my body and his mouth quirks in a way I’ve seen him do to other girls, but never to me. “I like your jacket. You look like a cute little bear.”
I look down at the fuzzy brown coat that I’ve come to love over the years, but my insides begin to churn as the memories catch up to me. I bought this jacket one year while Christmas shopping with Nathan. I used the excuse that I needed to get gifts for my family, but really, I just wanted to spend time with him. I had tried the jacket on for fun, but when he said it looked good on me, I threw away all my Christmas spending money and bought it.
“Nathan…”
“Haven’t you missed me?” he interrupts. “It’s been so long.”
I wait. I wait for the melting feeling that happens every time he sweet-talks his way back into my life. I wait for my guard to crumble and the need to tell him,‘I’m right here’to take over. I wait for something more from him.
But none of it comes.
“Are you still dating Hall?” He’s let go of my arm, but he’s close enough now that only a few inches separate us.
“Yes.”
He huffs a laugh, but there’s nothing friendly about it. I still when he leans in, lowering his voice so that even if we weren’t alone, his words would still feel like they were only meant for me. “What if I told you, I’ve been thinking about you?”
My jaw clenches, and an anger so violent it makes my eyes prick with unshed tears consumes me. I’ve been here for this man for years. I’ve beenhere, fighting for him to see me and to choose me. Now that he thinks I’m unobtainable, he wants me. But he doesn’t even want me. It’s like I’m some sick game to him. He’s never had to claim me because he’s always known that when he’s done fucking around, I would be here. Because I’ve always been here.
“I would say that it’s too late.” I tilt my chin when my voice comes out just as sure as I feel.
“Come on,” he whines with the same lopsided grin that’sgotten me to cave to him every time before. The only difference now, though…is me.
“Chlo!” a voice warm as honey calls to me. All the air fills my lungs again, and I stand just a little taller when Maverick comes to stand beside me, dropping a kiss to the top of my head.
Butterflies flutter throughout my stomach and his words from a few nights ago ring in my ears.“And the next time I kiss your lips, I don’t want you blaming anything other than your own fucking desire.”
Nathan backs up, tilting his chin in some form of a hello, and he doesn’t even have the decency to look ashamed of himself.
“Hall.”
“Quant.”
