CHAPTER TWENTY
Cara
I was so excited, my hands were shaking.
It felt like it had taken a long time for it to get here, but it was finally Labor Day weekend.
Edward and I had talked and texted whenever we could, but that wasn’t a suitable substitute for actually being together.
I was rushing around getting ready, about to leave to pick Edward up from the airport.
A knock at the door drew my attention. I figured it was Mrs. Rivera or one of my other neighbors who lived along our block of townhomes.
I opened the door, not bothering to look out the peephole first.
And regretted it instantly.
“Oh, hey, Monty,” I said, trying to keep the edge out of my voice. “What are you doing here?”
I had worked up the nerve to talk to him a couple of days after the scary hotel room flowers incident.
I’d thought it had gone well. I’d been very calm and polite, but firm.
I’d told him he made me uncomfortable with his attention, especially when he’d found out where I was in such an underhanded way.
I told him I saw him as a friend only, but it didn’t seem he was getting that message.
He’d tried to ask me out again, and I’d told him I didn’t see him in that way at all.
He hadn’t been happy by any means, but he hadn’t seemed angry, either.
He’d just nodded and left my dressing room.
I hadn’t seen him since, and I’d been living under the assumption that my problem was dealt with—over.
I’d been wrong.
He was standing on my stoop holding a large wicker basket. “I was hoping to surprise you with a picnic,” he said, smiling.
Crap. He hadn’t gotten the message at all. “I told you a few days ago that I don’t want to date you. I’m sorry, Monty, but that’s how it’s always going to be.”
Monty’s face was impassive. “Am I so unattractive to you, Cara?”
I didn’t want to make him angry, so I wasn’t going to tell him the truth—that he made my skin crawl. I spared his feelings. “It’s not that. I’m just seeing someone else, that’s all.”
He cocked his head, his eyes searching mine as he moved closer to me. “So, if he was out of the picture, you and I could be together?”
No, no, no, no. And why did that sound vaguely threatening? Like he’d have Edward taken out if that’s what it would take for us to be together? I fought back a shudder and tried to be patient. “No, that’s not it. I’m sorry, but I’m just not attracted to you.”
Monty’s face flushed. “You could be. I know you could be.”
I decided to ignore that. And I wanted him to leave. “I have to go. You caught me on my way out.” I said, carefully closing and locking my door while sliding past him before heading down the stairs to my car.
“Where are you going? Maybe I could ride with you.” His voice sounded funny, like he was working hard to control his tone.
“I’m headed to the airport to pick up a… friend,” I said, not wanting to give the information up, but not knowing how else to get away from him.
“A friend, huh?” He was still smiling, but his eyes had gone ice cold.
“Yes.” I didn’t owe him any further explanation.
“And Monty, I’d rather you not come to my house anymore.
” I said, getting into my car. He narrowed his eyes at me, as if he was trying to understand me.
A few weeks ago, I would have been nicer to him.
But too much had happened since then, and I was fed up.
I could feel him watching me as I pulled away from the curb. It was… unsettling.
My phone rang on Bluetooth, and I saw that it was Olivia. I welcomed the interruption. I needed something to get my mind off what had just happened.
“Hey, Livy, what’s up?” I asked, answering.
“Hey! What’s going on with you? I haven’t gotten an update from you lately.”
“Update?” Of course, I knew what she was talking about. I just didn’t want to have this conversation with her right now. I was trying not to think about Monty. But I knew that’s exactly what she wanted to discuss.
I sighed. Olivia suspected everyone and everything.
That’s why she would have been a great FBI agent, but it was also why I was terrified to take the trash out behind my apartment at night.
I’d dump it in the bin then sprint back to the safety of my townhouse, sure I was being chased by an axe murderer.
She wouldn’t take the latest news about Monty well.
“You know what I’m talking about. Anything new with Monty?”
“Um... there hadn’t been anything in a while…”
“That’s great.” She sounded relieved.
“And then I opened my door just a few minutes ago to find him waiting outside with a picnic.”
“Good lord. You need to set up some clear boundaries for this guy. And how does he know where you live?”
“I’m sure Nora told him.”
“How’d you get rid of him?”
“I told him I had somewhere to be. Then he offered to ride with me. When I told him I was headed to the airport to pick up a friend, he didn’t look pleased.”
“I like this guy less and less. Nora doesn’t have a key to your townhouse, does she?”
“Not anymore. I gave her a spare once, but I asked for it back several months ago because I needed to give one to Declan and didn’t want to make a new one.”
“Good. Does anyone have a copy besides Mom and Dad?”
“Just you and Dec.”
“Hmm. I hope Nora didn’t have an extra key made while she had it.”
I was silent while I thought about that. “Thanks a lot. Now I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”
“Maybe you should get your locks changed.”
“Maybe I will,” I agreed.
“Who are you picking up at the airport?”
I tried to hide my grin even though I was alone. “Edward. He’s going to stay with me for a few days.”
Livy laughed. “Wow! So… I guess that dinner went well a couple of weeks ago, huh?”
“Yep. I slept with him when he was here before,” I said answering her implied question. We’d both been busy lately and hadn’t talked much about it.
“Woo hoo!” She cheered. “How was it?”
I sighed. “Soooo much better than anything I’ve experienced before. And we’ve talked every day since he was here. I’m on the way to feeling just as strongly about him as I did when I was a teenager.” If not stronger, I thought, but kept that to myself.
I could hear the smile in her voice, but there was a slight hesitation. “I’m happy for you, I really am. Are you okay with how fast things are going?”
“Yeah. I don’t know how to explain it. It just feels right. And he told me some things I didn’t know back in that summer when we were nineteen.”
“Like what?”
“He was waiting to break up with Sara MacAllister until she got back from vacation with her family so he could do it face to face. I just wish he’d have told me then…”
“Would it have made a difference?”
I thought about it. “I’m not sure it would have,” I answered honestly. “I was so upset, so hurt. I’m not sure I would’ve listened.”
“That’s what I thought,” Livy sighed. “I always said I thought he didn’t act like himself that year because of what happened to his dad.
He was just going through so much. That doesn’t excuse everything, but at least it makes a little bit of sense.
Even if he is a complete dumbass for being with anyone instead of you. ”
“Spoken like a true sister,” I laughed.
“Well, I think this is great.” I could hear the smile in her voice. “You weren’t mad at him for telling Declan about what was going on with the Harts were you?”
I made a face. I hadn’t been pleased that Edward had gone to Declan without warning me first. I’d found out he’d spoken to him when I’d gotten a somewhat panicked call from Declan not long after Edward had gotten home from his Charleston trip.
I’d spent an hour talking Declan down from moving in with me to protect me.
“I wasn’t thrilled. But I guess he was just trying to look out for me.
” I paused. “And I like that he and Declan are talking and hanging out again. That makes me happy.”
“The fact that he wanted to tell someone close to you what was going on means you matter to him.” Olivia said, wisely.
I hadn’t thought of it in those terms, but I guessed she was right. “What about you? Are you dating anyone?”
“Not really. I’m taking a break.”
“Wow. That’s not your usual style.”
“Yeah, what can I say? I’m in kind of a dry spell, I guess. And,” she lowered her voice as if she didn’t want anyone who might be lurking around at home to hear her, “I’m starting to realize that no one can compare to Lufton.”
I had to bite back a gasp of happiness at that. I’d never understood why Livy wouldn’t fully commit to him.
“And I just haven’t felt like dating lately anyway.”
I frowned. There was a closed off tone in her voice I wasn’t used to hearing. But before I could press her on it, she hurried off the phone.
“Well, I’ve got to go. I hear Willa yelling at Declan.” She sighed. “My God. I swear those two are going to kill each other. That’s just one of the joys of being back home. Anyway, have a great weekend, call me later, and stay away from the Hart family.”
“Okay. Love you, Livy.”
She’d already hung up. I bit my lip. I was dying to know what was going on with her, but I wasn’t going to rush her.
I spent the rest of the drive listening to Chappell Roan and contemplating everything I felt for Edward.
I was also wondering what all we were going to do while he was here, especially considering I had to fit in performances and practices.
We’d figure it out. I felt all warm and tingly just thinking about having him stay over at my place.
I stood in the short-term parking area, waiting for him.
I’d taken extra care with my appearance.
I wore a short, low-cut green cotton sundress that tied at my shoulders.
I’d put on some wedge sandals. I had makeup on and had styled my hair in waves that fell halfway down my back.
I was full of nervous energy while I waited for the sight of him.
And then there he was.