Page 52 of Hearts on the Mend

“Come in before you both freeze.” I wave them both in, peeking toward Nolan one last time.

“See you’ve still got the grump hard at work.” Sloane slips off her hat and coat, then pushes her aviators up onto her forehead. I’m met with big brown eyes that are bottomless.

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit Sloane is about as cool and beautiful as her name is. I’m a little surprised that she came. I didn’t invite her, and…

“Nolan asked you to come over?”

“More hands make light work, or whatever that saying is,” Sarah quips. “All I know is that I was going to go nuts if I was stuck at home with my toddlers today. I needed to make a break for it.”

“House is looking better since I saw it a couple of weeks ago,” Sloane adds.

I grab their coats and hang them up in the hallway closet. The lightbulb swings as I pull the cord, revealing the last of the messy plaster downstairs. I have some peel-and-stick wallpaper picked out for it to help brighten it up. For now, it fits our coats and boots and the vacuum.

“Sloane told me you work at North Point Regional in the emergency department. Not sure how you’re tackling that, the house, and your daughter. Mine are still little and love to test out the stupidest ways to hurt themselves. Poor Arlo has a black eye because Olive discovered how to slam doors.”

“Black eyes are a toddler rite of passage.” I wring my hands, guilt surging through me. I could use some friends, but not because my roommate is twisting everyone’s arms to do it. “Can I get you guys some coffee or something to eat? I made some double chocolate banana bread last night.”

Once we’re caffeinated and fed, and after Nolan stomps into the house and heads upstairs to start work on my bathroom, I find myself settling into the morning a little less terrified of my to-do list. Sloane and I drift into the living room, and for a few minutes, it’s just… easy.

Matt’s crew was close, the wives closer. But I always felt I was forced to stick to the edges, friendly with everyone without having true friends. It’s weird that I feel like it’s the opposite with Sloane.

She smiles, and I cut her a quick look. She raises her hands, laughing. “Don’t think I didn’t hear that Nolan saved the day at school earlier this week for Career Day.”

“Don’t read too much into it. He hates me. I kinda flipped out⁠—”

“Nolan doesn’t hate you,” Sloane says.

“What happened?” Sarah pads further into the living room, sinks down on the couch, and reaches for the brown marble vase I found in the attic the other day. It was tucked inside an old steamer trunk, buried under a fur cape that reeked of mothballs.

The vase looks pretty, especially on the coffee table with the stack of books and lavender candle I laid out. She picks it up to examine it.

“Oh, my ex, well, soon-to-be ex bailed last minute on Ruby. He kept promising he’d go and give a speech for Career Day, but he was too busy.”

I try not to get upset about it, but if I’m being honest, I have only been upset about it. I expect him to let us down. What I didn’t expect was Nolan swooping in without me having to ask.

I felt too safe.

It’s something I could come to rely on, and I don’t want that. I don’t want to owe him anything. But I am also going absolutely fucking insane with the tension buzzing between us. Maybe we just need to get this out of our systems. Maybe we just need one more night where we can say how we feel, sleep together, and move on.

For my sake, I need to move on. Liking Nolan, letting him into our lives—it’s too dangerous, and I’m still trying to figure out everything with Matt.

Sloane picks up the vase next, examining it. “This is so cool.”

I grab the paint supplies I have stacked out in the hallway, the tarps that Nolan had set out for me, the ladder, the rollers and paintbrushes, everything we’re going to need.

I’ve been lonely since I moved here, not that I’m expecting to make a lot of connections, especially when I’m so set on leaving once the house sells.

“You know,” Sloane starts, “Ethan and I are meeting up with Jack and Izzy tomorrow night for supper. You should totally come.”

I shake my head. “I can’t.”

“Why not? It’s the weekend, and Ruby will be at her dad’s, right?”

I hug the folded tarp to my chest, narrowing my eyes at Sloane as she spins the vase around. “What are you doing?”

“Haven’t you ever seen Antiques Roadshow? I’m looking for your next payday.”

That would be nice, but I’m never so lucky. I’d say Murphy’s law, but that hits a little too close to home right now.