He winced. “What?”
Her face blanched as she stared back at him. “Nadine.”
CHAPTER 33
Emma paced back and forth in front of the fireplace. The sun streamed in through the living room windows, revealing the warm spring day outside. Still, she felt a deep chill and would have loved a roaring fire. Or maybe she could just go curl under her blankets upstairs. Yes, she could go back to bed and avoid the day entirely.
“Do you need something?” her father asked as he passed the doorway.
“No, I’m fine,” she said, barely offering him a smile as she continued her laps across the ivory Persian rug.
A minute later, Fran walked by. “Can I get you anything?”
“I’m fine,” Emma said, a little too quickly.
Her pace increased as she stole another look down at her phone.
5:04 p.m.
Nadine always stopped by on Saturdays after she got off work at five. That meant that at any moment she would be at the door, smiling and completely oblivious to the fact that her heart was about to be broken. Again.
Emma let out a shaky breath. She had been trying to work outwhat to tell Nadine since she left Knightley’s that morning. She had to break the news gently about what happened last night. But whathadhappened last night? God, Emma wasn’t even sure. They had hooked up. She had a massive amount of orgasms. He let her demolish his ice cream. But that was it. Despite everything that had happened that night, all the vulnerability and honesty and, well, orgasms, he hadn’t said anything about commitment or a relationship or love.
Meanwhile, she was in love with him. There was no denying it now. In fact, it felt ridiculous that she hadn’t realized it before. But just because she loved him, just because this was real and true and permanent for her, that didn’t mean it was the same for him. She knew his history; he had told her himself. He liked having no strings attached. And yet, she wanted strings with him. She needed strings. And their absence left her feeling lost.
She shook her head. Her mind was wandering again and she had to focus; this was about Nadine.
She decided to stick with the facts. The truth. She loved Knightley. And yes, she knew he didn’t really do relationships and usually never saw the women he slept with after actually sleeping with them, but he also told her he wanted her there in the morning. He just hadn’t specified which morning. Had he meant just today, or future mornings too? She really needed to talk to him, figure out what exactly this was before—
The doorbell cut off her train of thought.
Emma froze as she watched Fran cross the foyer to answer the door. A muffled greeting, a laugh, and then Nadine appeared, walking across the living room to collapse on the sofa.
“My feet are killing me!” she moaned. “Those marble floors at the salon are nice, but they’re not made for people with high arches.”
Emma tried to smile. This was it. But when she opened her mouth, nothing came out.
“Are you all right?” Nadine stared at her with concern.
“I’m fine! Totally fine,” Emma managed to say, her voice a bit too loud. “Do you want a drink?”
“No, I’m good.”
Emma nodded, then started pacing again, walking to the piano and back.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Nadine asked. “You’re making me nervous.”
“I’m great! I just think better when I’m moving, you know?”
Nadine nodded, even though the lines on her forehead didn’t relax. “Okay. Well, I have some news. It’s insane, but I have to tell you.”
“So do I. In fact, I really need to—”
“I’ve met someone!” Nadine squealed.
Emma paused. “You met someone? Like, on one of your apps?”
“Oh yeah. No,” Nadine said, brows knitting together. “I guess I haven’tjustmet him since I’ve known him for a while. But it’s only just become a thing, you know? I mean, I’ve thought he was gorgeous forages, but I never thought he’d look at me like that, obviously.” She laughed.
