I won't make another mistake with him.
I won’t let it be like everything else in my life.
29
NOVA
The wedding day is cold and clear.
I get out of the shower to find a voicemail from Clay.
My heart pounds as I hit Play.
“Pink, listen, about last night… I was feeling like shit after practice, and it threw me.But that’s no excuse.I fucked up.Jay told me about the scholarship.I know how important that was to you, and I wish I’d been there to see your sister’s face.And to tell you how damn proud I am of you.”His voice drops.“I’m gonna make it up to you.Can’t tell you how because it’s a surprise.But I can’t wait to see you in that dress.”
My chest expands when I hang up.
He sounds so earnest and contrite.
Clay isn’t Brad.He’s not careless with my feelings, and I’m not some pawn in a secret game to him.
His life is complicated, and he invited me in rather than holding me at a distance.
But is it enough?I can’t throw my heart recklessly after him.He has trust issues, and I’m finally realizing what it means to take care of myself.
I start to tuck my phone away but notice a red notification with the number one hovering over my email.
I click it open.
Nova,
We’ve cleared you of wrongdoing and regret any inconvenience this may have caused.We’d like you to resume your job at the earliest opportunity.
Sincerely,
Mr.Dalton
It’s what I’ve wanted for the past month.
Exoneration.
A way forward.
But with it, there’s a new tension in my body.Getting what I’ve been desperate for all along doesn’t feel as good as I expected.
I vow to push the news, and my complicated reaction, out of my mind for the rest of the day.
This is about my sister, I remind myself as I bound down the stairs to grab coffee for Mari and myself.
“What are you doing down here?!”Brooke grabs my shoulders ninety minutes later at the venue.
“Fixing flowers.”My face screws up as I adjust the swag on the end of the rows of chairs.
“You need to get dressed.”She’s already in her bridesmaid's dress, the soft pink making her golden skin glow.I’m still wrapped in a robe, but guests won’t be arriving for another hour at least.“Hey!”she calls to a tall, broad figure in a dress shirt crossing the hall.“Come tell Nova these flowers are perfect.”
Miles is wearing a dark suit with a baby-blue shirt that sets off his blue eyes.His gaze locks on Brooke, and he does a double take.“Ladies.”He adjusts his suit as he crosses to us.“You look…”
Brooke cocks her head.
