Chapter Twenty-Five

Nora

The Boys and Girls Club mentor-mentee groups left the store about a half hour ago.

Sebastian wasn't with them.

I've done everything I can think of to keep him off my mind since our last conversation—the one where he made it clear we aren't an us, and we both agreed we can never be. But he's been there, waiting for any invitation to waltz back in. And like a waltz, I am slow to forget him and quick-quick to drag every memory out of storage at the slightest provocation.

My foolish, clingy heart had hoped he'd come today so we could at least pretend things aren't going to be weird forever. To salvage a possible friendship before he moves.

But he didn't show up today.

Benji's footfalls on the store's creaky wooden floors grow louder. I shift in my cushy chair, dragging my gaze off the black iron light poles out the window.

"Legally I still have three more minutes on my break," I inform him.

He leans over the back of my chair and deposits Tairn on my lap.

I stiffen for about two seconds before giving up on any sort of resistance. "Hey bud."

Benji slinks around to block my view of the window. His stare pokes me right in the face. "There's something very wrong with you."

I stroke Tairn's back. "Wow, flattery will get you everywhere."

"I'm serious. You have never held Tairn without gloves, and definitely not while sitting down where you can't easily run him back to his crate."

"You deposited him on my lap," I say. "Were you hoping I'd fling him across the store?"

"I was hoping you'd act like yourself again." He scoops Tairn back into his arms, now that he thinks he's proven some kind of point. "You've been in a funk for the last two weeks."

I push up from the chair and migrate toward the register. "No I haven't."

"You haven't talked my ear off about what you're reading, you're not bringing any food to work in your ridiculous color-coded Tupperware, we haven't been to Chili's, and you've been posting exclusively horror on the store's Instagram."

"That's my job," I grumble. "I'm supposed to post books."

"It's summer. People like beach reads, cheerful shit like that."

I gesture at his entirely black ensemble. "Tell me more about cheerful, Kylo Ren."

He exhales in exasperation. "I'm worried about you."

It occurs to me that life would've been easier if I'd just fallen for him when I moved here. This attractive, enigmatic, thoughtful man. If he could've fallen for me, too.

I wouldn't be lying in bed at night so deeply alone , regretting my choices. Regretting the people who got hurt because of me. Falling asleep to dreams of untouchable men.

In a perfect world, we pick who we want and they want us back.

His voice is stern. "I know you've been sending my mother weekly flower arrangements. Anonymously."

Busted . If I were a cat, all my hair would be standing straight up. Benji was not supposed to find out about the flowers. That's between me and my conscience. "How do you know that?"

"Because she thinks they're from me, even though I keep sending thumbs-down emojis every time she sends me a picture of them. But I'm not going to tell her they're from you, since you clearly want it to stay anonymous." He lifts an admonishing finger. "After the way she treated you, you do not have to do that. I would've yanked her out of that dining hall much sooner had I known it was going to take such a quick turn. I won't forgive myself for that. But I won't have you miserable and pandering to her."

"It's fine, Benji."

"It's not fine. Now stop spending your money on wasted flowers, hear me?"

"I need to feel like I'm making it up to her in some way that doesn't feel like I'm outright asking her forgiveness." I spin my ring. "It's the least I can do. For all her anger, she was upset because she thought I hurt you. I betrayed her trust. I ruined her daughter's wedding."

Benji huffs. "Rosalina didn't want that wedding. It was clear from the start. I know my sister, and the only part of that wedding she would've chosen is her bridal party. But the rest of it was clearly all the family's doing."

"It's not just the wedding." I approach the checkout counter and slide my hand over the cold countertop. "It's her relationship . Maybe she just needed to get to the other side of that week so she and Enzo could get some space from the family and move forward. It's like I took her cold feet and submerged them in ice water, and now she's done something she might regret."

He sets Tairn on the perch near the checkout counter and leans against the end of a bookcase, arms crossed. "It's not your fault that they have family issues. Now, I don't know them as a couple. I don't know what else might be going on. But I know you. You're carrying guilt that doesn't belong to you."

The front door opens with gusto. "Knock knock!"

In strolls Gia. Even if I didn't know it was Gia, I'd still know, courtesy of the name tag pinned to her tied-up flannel shirt. She's rocking a uniform for The Huntress, a sports bar down the street. Skimpy shorts, winter boots, and blood red lips complete the bartender ensemble.

She meets my eye and smiles. "Oh good, you're both here. I was worried it'd just be Mr. Storm Cloud over there."

Benji's gaze follows her as she struts across the store. "I'll be in my office."

"Not so fast," Gia says. She comes to a stop next to the perch and lifts Tairn into her arms. "I want to talk to you, Benjamino."

Benji's eyes widen. "What are you doing? Why are you touching him?"

"I'm greeting one of the other living things in this room?" Her face is the visual representation of the word duh . "Be rude not to, wouldn't it?"

Horror and indifference look exactly the same on Benji, so I'm not sure what we're working with. He merely stares.

"What do you want, Gia?" he asks.

"As you probably don't know because you surely haven't asked, Rosalina is now sleeping on my couch."

A weight lodges itself in my stomach.

"And while I can't solve her relationship woes—because she won't talk to me and has been picking up twelve-hour shifts at the theme park to avoid any opportunity where we might talk—I do know this family stuff is out of hand. You lied to her. Lying to your mom? Sure, I get that. But why not tell Rosalina the truth? It's like one day you woke up and forgot who she is to you. Maybe you're busy, or you just don't care anymore—"

"I care," Benji says, hurt creeping into his tone. "And I get that you're going to defend her, but you don't understand. She tries to set me up. Constantly . Almost as much as my mother. I couldn't take it anymore."

"It's my fault," I say. "I offered to be his date, I encouraged him to keep it a secret, and I'm the one who messed it all up."

Gia eyes me. "I appreciate that. You were being a good friend." She turns her critical gaze back to Benji. "Yes, Rosalina is intense when it comes to the people she loves. This isn't news. And it can be too much at times. But I still think you owe her an apology."

Benji takes his phone out of his pocket, shoots Gia one inscrutable look, and stalks toward his office.

She pops her fist on her hip and yells at his back. "Yes, Gia! I agree, Gia! How hard is it to use your words?"

He wheels around, walks back, lifts Tairn off her shoulder, and disappears down the hall.

"Well then." Gia turns her gaze to me. "At least I fixed one issue."

I have it on good authority that he already wanted to apologize to Ro and was waiting for the right time, but I don't say anything.

"So, Rosalina really left Enzo?" My face is going to get frown lines at the rate I'm going.

"I don't know what her plan is. All I know is one week makes sense to wallow after a big fight. But two weeks? Something has to give."

"They love each other so much. Anyone can see it. Are they really going to let their families stand in the way?"

"I couldn't tell you. I just know she's constantly, unsubtly rereading their old text messages but is too stubborn to admit she misses him. What she needs from me is a couch and a friend who will try to keep up the illusion of normalcy, I think." She rubs her temple. "But that's why I'm here. I'm leaving town for a few days, and I'm worried about leaving her alone. I'm off to another mutual friend's wedding that Rosalina is rightfully skipping because, well, ouch —but I'm wondering if I should just cancel. I was hoping her brother would step up to the plate and spend some time with her."

"He may, once they get that initial conversation out of the way." I stroke my chin, my wheels turning. "Where did you say she works?"

"Adventureland Theme Park. She's a manager. Why?"

"I've wanted to apologize to her in person for everything that happened but haven't known where to find her. Maybe I could go see her, and then check in with her a few times after, if that goes well? What do you think?"

God, why does this feel like I'm asking a dude out?

Her eyes glimmer with hope. "Yes. That'd be great. I don't know where in Adventureland you'd find her, but you should definitely try. And here"—she takes my phone out of my pocket and starts typing—"is my address and phone number. I'm texting myself so I have yours. Once I figure out Rosalina's next day off, I'll text you that, too." She looks up as she hands it back. "Is this an ambush? Do we even care if it is?"

"Don't worry, I'll tread lightly." I sigh. "It kills me that she's upset."

"I'm with you, girl." She twirls a red curl around her finger, expression distant. "But all we can do is support her however she'll let us."

One way I could've supported her was by not wrecking her wedding.

But maybe I can fix this. Unlike Gia or Benji, I have nothing to lose if I interfere and it doesn't pay off. Maybe Ro gets even more mad at me if I involve myself in her business, but she probably already hates me for lying to her.

If I can help salvage her relationship—her marriage—it'll be well worth it.

As Gia heads back to work, I glance at my phone.

A sense of purpose swirls in my stomach as I open my texts. Sebastian and I may be done, but Enzo is his friend. He may know something Gia and I don't. His help would be useful.

I fire off a text.

You should check on Enzo if you haven't already.

I worry my bottom lip as I stare at the screen. Before I can talk myself out of it, I send one more.

And after you do, maybe you can stop by my store so we can talk?