7. Clara

CHAPTER 7

CLARA

You’re the only one I want. I can’t imagine being with someone else. - Nick

“Sure, come on over. I guess we should clear the air. We are neighbors, after all. What about the kids? Will they be home soon?”

I met him at the edge of where our lawns met. For some dumb reason, having that dividing line between us made me feel safe, as if my emotions could be contained within the border of purple pansies and petunias I had planted the other day as long as we stayed on our separate sides.

“They’re going to their mother’s house after school. It’s her turn with them.”

“Ahh, I see. That must be tough. Sadie still struggles sharing the boys with her ex.”

“It’s not what I imagined when I pictured having kids, as you may recall.”

I did recall.

We used to talk all the time about what it would be like to have a family together and all the things we’d do differently than our parents. “I’m so sorry, Nick.”

“It is what it is. Anyway, it’s going to be a lot easier now that I live here. My ex lives around the corner. They’ve already started coming and going between our houses. I see them a lot more.”

“Good. Do y’all get along, or . . . ?” I couldn’t believe we were standing here making innocuous small talk like this when we had once been able to share everything. It felt strange. It felt wrong. I didn’t like it one bit.

His hesitant smile turned to a frown when a brand-new Range Rover pulled up to the curb. “Shit,” he mumbled under his breath.

“That’s her, isn’t it?” I hissed.

A resigned nod was his only answer.

He looked beat down and exhausted. I decided to stay put.

Intrigued, I watched as a gorgeous, flashy brunette exited the vehicle. “Nicky, we have to talk. The kids want you to come to the wedding. They wouldn’t let up, so I agreed.” I didn’t like the way she said his name. It wasn’t an endearment. The way she said it was condescending, like she was trying to diminish him in order to get her way.

“That is the last thing I want to do. No thanks.” He crossed his arms over his chest and stepped away from her. He was now in my yard, on my turf. My hands hit my hips as I took in the snotty look on her face.

“That is neither here nor there.” She whipped an expensive-looking envelope from her Louis Vuitton Speedy and waved it in his face. “The kids want this to happen. So, here’s my personal invitation to you, hand delivered. Don’t disappoint them, okay?”

He snatched it, folded it roughly, and stuffed it into the pocket of his jeans. “I’ll think about it.”

She went on, dismissing his concerns with a roll of her eyes. “Feel free to bring a date, Nick. I mean, if you can get one, that is. How long has it been? You must be positively dying. How’s the hand?” She snickered.

Why wouldn’t he be able to get a date?

Was she nuts? Could she not see how sexy he was?

He was hotter than ever, and I remembered lusting after him extensively in high school.

I had sat behind him in history class during our senior year—when I was there anyway. He was the quarterback, and I was usually drunk under the bleachers with my friends, but it didn’t make me blind, for eff’s sake.

My eyes roved over his broad-shouldered, wide-chested form, noting the way his biceps were about to bulge right through the sleeves of the blue Green Valley High polo shirt he was wearing. It was tight around his pecs too, and don’t even get me started on his ass in those jeans.

Thank you very much, casual Friday.

Also, what a witch, talking down to him like that. The look on her face triggered me. I flashed back to my mom, waving her pointy finger in the air as she berated me and my sisters.

Nuh-uh.Nope. My protective hackles rose. Damn my constant compulsion to stick up for an underdog.

He heaved out a sigh. “I’m not currently dating anyone, Morgan. You know I’ve been busy working every hour I can get to afford the down payment on this place.”

“Nicky, my god,” she snapped and held up a hand. “You’re impossible.”

I watched, fascinated as he mentally and physically retreated at what had to be a familiar gesture from her. His eyes dimmed and he shrank back.

Hell no.

“Let’s not get this started again⁠—”

She wasn’t going to stop, I could tell. She was getting warmed up for a fight.

“You wouldn’t have had to do that if you’d taken the job with your stepfather after we got married like you said you were going to do.”

Ha! She wanted a fight. I knew it. What a cow.

“I never, not ever, said that. Not once. How you got that idea into your head is beyond me,” he protested. But it was half-hearted, like he was compelled to defend himself, but his first instinct was to walk away.

“Well, why you’d want to struggle like you do will always be beyond me, especially when you could have gone so much farther and made so much more out of your life.”

“That’s enough. I’m not discussing this with you anymore. We’re divorced, remember? I can do what I want now without your input.”

Her haughty huff was obnoxious as all get out. “Fine. Have it your way.”

Was she a gold digger? Maybe she’d found out about his stepdad and staked her claim on him back whenever they first got together.

I had to be right. She wasn’t even hiding it. It was blatant. She was dressed designer, head to toe. Her engagement ring had to be at least five carats, and her Range Rover was brand-new. I took a glance at her shoes—red soles. Louboutin. Yup.

Eff this and eff her. I stepped closer to Nick and slid my hand from his shoulder to the center of his chest.

Nick was more than good enough, for anyone. He was a teacher, for eff’s sake. It was the most noble profession of them all.

“He has a date,” I burst out. “Don’t you worry about that.”

Whoa, stop it. Back up. Frick!

She sneered, “And who might you be?” She lowered her Fendi sunglasses down her nose and squinted at me over the rim.

“I’m Clara Hill. Nick’s neighbor. We started seeing each other after he moved in. It’s new, but—” I shrugged and tilted my head as I shifted my eyes up to Nick’s with a flutter of my lashes. “We went to high school together. He’s an old friend with new possibilities.”

He bit his lip, hiding a grin as I slid my hand down his arm and took his hand in both of mine. I pressed my boobs into his big biceps and leaned my head against his shoulder.

“I see. Well, it’s nice to meet you.”

I held out a hand, making sure my tennis bracelet flashed in the sun. “You too. Your kids are wonderful. I always knew Nick would make such a good dad.”

“Thank you. They are wonderful, my pride and joy.” Her face pinched and I grinned harder as the smugness left her expression.

“One more thing.” She turned back to Nick, completely dismissive of me. “I wanted to ask if you could keep the kids for the next few days while I finish up the last-minute wedding details at the country club.” Her eyes drifted back to mine, making sure I understood she was part of the country club.

I rolled my eyes. Big whoop. That place was full of snobs. I was only a member on paper just so I could say I belonged.

“No problem. I would love to have them more often; you already know that.”

Her smile turned genuine—how weird.

“I had a feeling you would. This living arrangement is going to suit us both just fine. Of course, they can come on by whenever I’m there. It’s just been so hectic lately with all the running around for the wedding and such. I’d much rather they get quality time at home with you than having to tag along all over town running errands with me. I appreciate this.”

“I’m happy to do it.” His smile for her was genuine too.

They both loved their kids, that much was certain. Good.

“Once we’re settled and you need time with”—she waved a hand in my direction as she eyed me up and down—“your flavor of the month, I’ll be happy to return the favor.”

I bit my lip as I hid a laugh. She was entirely too obvious. “Well, bless your heart. Look how generous she is, Nicky. Now we can have alone time whenever we want. Isn’t she sweet?” I nipped at his neck and wrapped my arms around his waist.

“Uh, yeah.” He cleared his throat. “Thanks, Morgan.”

Was she jealous or just a bitch?

Did she want him back?

What was her deal? I couldn’t read her, which both fascinated and irritated me in equal measure. But the bottom line was, I didn’t like her. I added her to my shit list. No one got away with being unkind when I was around.

She gave me one last derisive look up and down. “I have to go.”

“Bye now.” I waggled my fingers in a wave as obnoxious as she was as Nick stared down at me. I could feel the confused brain waves emanating from him.

He raised an eyebrow and said, “So, I guess I have a date for her wedding?”

I dropped his arm like a hot potato and stepped away.

“You sure as hell do and you can bet your ass I’ll be dressed to kill. But I hope you realize that this has nothing to do with you. I do not like her one bit. I don’t like how she talked down to you. None of that was okay. I hope she’s not like that with Ethan and Sasha⁠—”

His eyes softened. He knew about my mother’s old ways and how I grew up. “She not. I would never allow that. Wedding planning has her stressed out lately, is all.”

“Good. I didn’t really think you would. But you shouldn’t let her get away with talking to you that way either. It doesn’t matter what it is that’s stressing her out, it’s rude and uncalled for. How’d you end up with a moody little witch like that?” I gave him the side-eye and crossed my arms. “You used to have much better taste in women.”

He let out a bitter laugh. “She was your opposite in every way, and I had to do something to forget about you. She got pregnant with Ethan, so I married her. We tried to save the marriage with Sasha—which I don’t recommend—and got divorced a few years after that. She’s great with the kids, it’s me she has a problem with. And you too now, apparently.”

“Uh, okay, well that was brutally honest.”

He shrugged. His mood had shifted into one I’d never experienced with him in the past. He was dejected, cynical, cold.

I didn’t know how to react, so I kept quiet.

“Lying is pointless,” he added.

“Ironic, isn’t it? Considering the situation we just found ourselves in.” I tried to catch his eyes and failed.

“Secrets aren’t the same as lies,” he insisted. “Who would we be hurting?”

“You mean besides ourselves, potentially?”

A small grin tipped up the corner of his mouth, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “So what about you?” he asked. “Married? Divorced? I assume you’re single right now, yes?”

“Obviously, I’m single.” His attitude was getting to me. Was he trying to accuse me of something? “I’m not a liar, and I always do what I say I’m going to do. And no, I’ve never been married.”

“Just out there breaking hearts then?”

“You know it.” I scowled as my mood flipped from feeling protective of him to angry at what he had implied about me. As if I’d volunteer to be his date if I was seeing someone. “It’s my favorite pastime.”

“I guess me joining you on the porch for a chat right now is not gonna happen.”

“You’re smart for a man.”

He placed his hand over his heart. “Ouch.”

“Don’t worry, Nicky. Unlike your ex, I rarely shoot to kill. I think you’ll survive.”

“I’m sorry, okay? Morgan pushes my buttons. I’m exhausted, and you’re getting to me. You left Green Valley and didn’t look back and I—” He ran a hand over the back of his neck, leaving it there as his mouth twisted into a frown. “I don’t know how to feel about it is all. First, we almost kissed on the balcony, then you kicked me out. You defended me just now and then pushed me away. You’re confusing as hell, Clara.”

“It’s fine. It’s whatever.” I took a page from his ex’s playbook and waved a hand in dismissal. “Feel whatever you want to feel.”

“I—never mind. This isn’t the time. I need a damn nap.”

I watched his fine ass as he headed up his walkway to his own porch where he sat in the cute wicker rocking chair I had been admiring ever since it had been delivered. He pulled out his phone, then put his feet on the railing as he pretended to peruse whatever was on the screen as he watched me from the corner of his eye, the big hot stupid jerk.

Were we playing games now?

I couldn’t figure him out. But then again, how could I when I wasn’t even sure about my own feelings? Well, at least one feeling was clear: I was mad at him again. We definitely needed to talk, but now I didn’t want to. Again. Damn it.

He had no idea who he was messing with. The sweet little Clara he used to know was buried so deep beneath the pieces of the heart he had broken that I doubted she’d ever find her way out again. And this Clara only played to win.

I, Lavender Lane stripper, walked up the steps and slid out of my robe. Never had I been more grateful for Lululemon’s vast array of sexy athleisure wear. I blew him a kiss as I sat down, lifting a foot up to the railing to push the swing while glaring at him from the corner of my eye.

I reached for my phone and scrolled to the local nursery’s web page to order an entire buttload of plants for Sasha to enjoy on her porch. She was sweet, she deserved to be surrounded by pretty things, and Nick deserved to take care of them all.

Figure out how to keep a fiddle-leaf fig and a few Alocasia alive, you arrogant asshat.

I glanced up. He was waving me over. “I’m sorry,” he called. “I mean it.”

As if.

“I’m busy,” I hollered back at his grumpy ass. “Take a nap and maybe I’ll reconsider talking to you at some point.”

I scrolled back to the page and added a watering can, a Boston fern, and a pothos. It was hard not to muah ha ha ha out loud, but I managed. My eyes drifted over the ever-growing collection of greenery on my porch and throughout my yard. Plants could be persnickety; keeping them alive took time and knowledge. He’d find out.

Shots fired. Bang.

Yeah, so it was plants and not something truly mean. He had kids and they were nice. And damn, the man looked exhausted. I couldn’t bring myself to do anything truly hurtful.

But no one messes with Clara Jean Hill and gets away with it. Not anymore. And never again.