Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Nori
In the end, I don’t go to Serendipi-Tea.
I just can’t face Violet right now. As long as I’ve known her, she’s been nothing but supportive, so there’s no doubt in my mind she’s doing what she thinks is best. Not only for me, but also for the shop. Her choices always come from a place of love and genuine concern for my well-being.
So a small part of me is starting to wonder if she’s right.
What if the mirrors have been sending me signs? Not about Cash, but about all the pressure I’ve voluntarily taken on. Seeing visions of yourself holding hands with a man you’ve known for a month isn’t exactly evidence of a sound mind.
But I’m not ready to admit that to anyone yet. And I can’t imagine acting normal all day in front of Yvette and Ben. Violet’s not telling everyone about the sale until closing tomorrow, which means they’re all going to find out they’re losing their jobs because I couldn’t keep my head on straight. I’m feeling the weight of everybody’s futures on my shoulders.
So. No Serendipi-Tea for me today.
Instead, I make the hour-and-a-half drive to Boston to see East and Becca. They just got back from an anniversary trip to Cabo, so I know they’re home. They have no idea I’m coming. But I figure they’re family. And family’s there for each other when one of their members suddenly shows up unannounced, right? At least, that’s what I’m counting on as I stand on their porch shifting my weight.
You should’ve called .
Maybe.
Still, I couldn’t imagine saying all the words over the phone. So many words filling my head and churning in my stomach and pinging in my heart and gathering in my eyes, like tears waiting to be spilled.
Which is why, the moment Becca opens the door, I fall into her arms and sob.
My brother hears the ruckus from the bedroom, and joins us at the kitchen table. For a full hour, I cry out all the things I’ve been holding back from them for the past month. Not to mention the last half a year since they moved away. And also the two decades before that, when I finally got old enough to understand the story of our family.
A lot of the current issues they already know. Like the Swipe Rite promotion, and Dorothy’s repairs, and me trying to buy Serendipi-Tea. But the Cash situation comes as a surprise.
Not to mention the mirror visions.
The thing is, they don’t laugh, or treat me like I’m delusional, or make a single judgmental comment while I weep. East sits across from me, arms folded, just listening. Becca’s beside me offering tissues. Occasionally she reaches out to tuck my hair behind my ear, or give my hand a squeeze. But then I need to blow my nose again, so she has to let go.
Things go like this for a bit.
And then I get to the part about potentially being sued, which is when East finally speaks up.
“Sued for what? ”
“Breach of contract,” I sniffle.
“But you didn’t go out with anyone else,” he says. “Hayden’s wedding wasn’t a date. You two were just guests at the same location, who happened to dance to the band.”
“String quartet.” I swipe at my nose.
“Not the point,” East says.
“Show me the video,” Becca says. I pull it up, and they both watch together. And I watch them watching. As Cash and I dance, their expressions soften. I don’t miss the glance they share.
“What?” I gulp.
“You two do look very …” Becca’s voice trails off.
East clears his throat. “ Very very.”
“But we didn’t even kiss,” I say. “Well, not until later. And then there was one time before. But anyway, there’s no proof Cash and I were anything more to each other than friends.”
“It’s obvious you care about him, though.” Becca’s hand is back, but on my shoulder this time. “A lot.”
I nod, blinking back tears. “I wanted him to be my final date, but Jemma said no. And I swear I would’ve backed out of the contract—I don’t even want the money anymore—but I can’t go to court.” My breath catches. “I only agreed to the promotion so I could buy Serendipi-Tea, which isn’t even happening anymore.” Fresh tears begin to fall, dripping down my chin. “And Cash is leaving, so I?—”
“Hold on,” Becca interrupts, suddenly. “You should call Phoenix.”
I scrunch up my face. “What?”
“Pamela’s friend. Phoenix Fernsby. The lawyer? I know you two didn’t hit it off, but he’s still a super-nice guy.” Becca studies my face. “Bad idea?”
I huff out a breath, amazed that I hadn’t thought of this myself. “No. That idea is so … so smart.”
“Spoiler alert.” East grunts. “Becca’s so, so smart. ”
“I guess I’ve been in too much of a brain fog lately to think clearly myself.”
“Well, that’s what I’m here for.” Becca offers me a sweet smile. “All the smartness. And clear thinking.”
A fresh sob rises in my throat, but I gulp it down. “You’ve had to deal with my dumbness for so long.”
“Hey,” Becca quips. “Don’t you dare say that about my favorite Nori.” She hands me a dry tissue. “Eleanor Sinclair happens to be kind and generous and hilarious. Oh, and she’s absolutely drop-dead gorgeous.”
I cough out a wet laugh. “You have to say that. I look just like the female version of your husband.”
East smirks. “True story.”
“Okay, forget about that part,” Becca says. “You’re also brilliant and strong and capable.”
“Sure.” I honk into the tissue. “If I’m all those things, then why do I keep failing?”
“You’re not failing, Nori.” East’s voice is deep. Firm. “You’ve never failed. Ever.”
“He’s right.” Becca nods. “You’ve just been learning what hasn’t worked for you yet. And you’ll keep on learning until you find the thing that does work.”
“Look at me, though.” I breathe out a long, raggedy sigh. “I’ve been trying so hard not to need you guys, and I ended up blubbering all over your kitchen.”
Becca grabs my hand, snotty tissue and all. “It’s okay to need other people, Nori. It’s kind of the whole point of having more than one human on earth.”
“But I needed you both way too much,” I choke. “For way too long.”
East leans over the table. “Maybe you don’t get to decide that,” he says. “Maybe Becca and I made all our own choices and ended up exactly where we were meant to be. Where we wanted to be. ”
“ Want to be.” Becca aims a chuckle at East. “Let’s use the present tense, honey. Because Cabo was a want-fest.”
“Eww. You’re still married to my brother, you know.”
“Yes. For twenty-three years. And what does that tell you?”
I inhale deeply, letting the truth of her words fill me up. “That you’re good?”
“We’re good,” East says. “And you’ve always been good, too. We love you, Nor.” His voice goes gravelly. “There’s nothing we wouldn’t do for you. You know that, right?”
“I do.” I drop my gaze, swallowing the tears in my throat. “But could you maybe do a little less checking up on me, and a little more waiting for me to come to you?” I look up again, darting my eyes between him and Becca. “Like I did today.”
“Fine.” East’s mouth curves into a smile. “But maybe don’t try so hard to control the things you can’t change. Just be okay with what is.”
Becca reaches for her phone. “Let’s be okay with what is after we talk to a lawyer.”
I bob my head. “Deal.”
What we learn from Phoenix Fernsby is that Swipe Rite can’t sue me if I refuse to pick a final match and date him publicly for the next month. The Who Will Nori Choose campaign wasn’t a part of the original contract. Neither was their offer of the extra five-thousand-dollar bonus.
However. Swipe Right can refuse to pay me any more money, and they can ask me to return the sum they already gave, if I fail to date all ten men.
Still. Like East said. I wouldn’t be failing.
I’d be learning what doesn’t work for me.
Now I just have to figure out what will.