Chapter 27
On Thursday evening, Bianca calls me.
“Hi, Bia.”
She giggles. “I told Owen, and he won't stop covering me in kisses. He keeps trying to talk to the baby. I keep telling him the ears haven't developed yet, but he insists our baby can hear him. He is the daddy, after all.”
I laugh. “That man is something else. Do you feel better now that you've told him?”
I hear her yell at Owen. “Stop, Owen. Kissing my stomach tickles.” His voice comes from the background. “Oh yeah, baby? I could tickle something else.”
I raise my voice into the phone. “Hey! I'm still here!”
“Oh, sorry, Nora. Yes, I felt much better after your pep talk. Owen was really excited when I told him. Speaking of which, you have a date with Graham on Saturday. You'd better not leave out any details.”
I laugh. “I won't. I'll let you go so you and Owen can practice for baby number two.”
She laughs. “Love you, Nora. Bye.”
“Love you too, Bia.”
I end the call.
Saturday…
I search my closet for something to wear.
I'm so fucking nervous. What if he tells me he wants Vanessa? My heart would shatter into a million pieces. Still, I've decided to give this a chance.
Someone knocks. I frown in confusion and open the door. Bianca walks in and hands me a short dress. “What the fuck am I supposed to do with this?” I ask.
She takes my hand and leads me to the bedroom. “You're going to wear it. I know it's a little bold for you, but I think it'll look good on your figure.”
I roll my eyes. “Ugh. I think you're making me more nervous.”
She turns toward me. “Why are you nervous?”
I fling my arms up. “I have no fucking clue. Ugh, my stomach feels like it's about to explode.”
She giggles. “Probably because this time you don't have any secrets hanging over you. This is the real deal. Are you staying the night?” She sits me at the vanity.
I look at her in the mirror and smirk. “I put a bag in my trunk.”
She giggles and continues curling my hair.
I slip into the short yellow dress. It's bold, but I rather like the way it looks on me.
I head to Graham's house and knock. When he opens the door, his gaze travels slowly over my body. “You look amazing,” he says.
I smile. “Thank you. So do you.”
I walk into the kitchen. “Mmm, something smells good. What are you making?”
He chuckles. “The vegetables are baking, and I've got chicken on the grill.”
“What would you like to drink?” he asks.
I shrug. “I don't know. I'll just have a beer.”
He chuckles. “I didn't have you down as a beer drinker.”
I smirk. “There's a lot you don't know about me.”
Silence.
I gasp. “Fuck, that was a terrible joke. I'm sorry. I just… I don't know what to say around you.”
He smiles. “It's okay. No more secrets.”
I nod and accept the beer. “I don't have any more secrets. What about Vanessa?”
He sighs. “We had dinner last night. I told her I stopped being in love with her a long time ago and that she needs to move on. She slapped me a couple of times and accused me of leading her on. Then she stormed out of the restaurant.”
I shake my head and sip my beer. “Why do I get the feeling nothing is that simple with her?”
“Tell my face that.” He starts laughing.
I sigh. “Why do you think she came back?”
“Honestly, she told me she left him because he wasn't nice to her. She said she regretted everything and wanted me back. But when she left me, I realized how manipulative she was. I think he dumped her, and I was her fallback. That plan didn't work out so well either.” He winks.
Graham goes to get the chicken from the grill while I take the vegetables out of the oven. We sit at the dining table and begin eating.
As I cut into my chicken, I say, “Graham, I'm sorry I lied to you. I should have told you the truth.”
He gives me a questioning look. “Why didn't you?”
I sigh. “I don't know. I was afraid that somehow, if I told anyone about him, he'd find me. I know that sounds stupid, but I was so scared of him. I wanted to pretend he wasn't real. Thinking about him brought back so many terrible memories. I was also afraid you'd hate me.”
Graham shakes his head. “I could never hate you.”
I purse my lips. “Yes. Yes, you did. You didn't see the look on your face. You practically said you hated me without using the words. It honestly felt as though I'd lost a piece of my heart.”
He lays his hand over mine, guilt filling his eyes. “Nora, I'm so sorry for the way I acted that night. I should have listened. I should have been there to protect you. I should have…”
“Stop, Graham. You can't blame yourself for that night. You kept Henry from hurting me any more. I'm okay now.”
“Nora, I've been seeing a therapist for anger management. I'm trying to get it under control.”
I nod. “I know. I promise I'll be honest with you about everything.”
He smiles. “Okay. And I promise I'll listen.” He leans over to kiss my cheek. “I'm so sorry for everything I said. I didn't mean a word of it.”
I sigh. “Do you really think I'd abort your child?”
He takes a deep breath. “I don't know. Nora, I was angry. I said it to upset you. God, I was so stupid to say that. I never want to hurt you.”
I squeeze his hand. “I understand why you were upset. But no more angry outbursts.”
He nods. “Okay. Can we put this behind us now?”
“I'd like that.” I smile at him.
After dinner, we go out onto the back deck. I lean against the railing and look over his backyard. He comes up behind me, enclosing me in his arms.
I turn toward him and notice a small red mark on his cheek that I missed earlier. I brush my thumb over it.
“It won't bruise. Though I thought it might those two times you slapped me. You smacked the shit out of me.” He grins, showing his white teeth.
I giggle. “I'm really sorry. The first time, I was angry at everything, and you got caught in the line of fire. The second time, I was mad because you said you loved me. I thought you only said it so I wouldn't be angry anymore, like you were using it against me.”
His gaze lowers to my lips. “I said it because I meant it. I still do. I love you so much. You're all I think about.”
I peck his lips and draw a deep breath. “Look, it's hard for me to be open about my feelings.
I've kept them locked away for so long that I forgot what it felt like to be loved, or to love someone else.
I love you, Graham, so much it hurts. Sometimes my heart feels like it's going to leap out of my chest.”
He takes my chin and kisses me hard. His hands move from my hair and face over my breasts, down to my waist, then squeeze my ass. They travel to my thighs before he lifts me onto the railing. I grip his shoulders and slowly slide my hands toward the hem of his shirt. Mmm. I want him so badly.
He breaks the kiss. “Fuck, Nora. Do you know how many times I thought about fucking you and making love to you while we were in California?”
I nod. “Yes, because it was all I could think about too.”
He sets me on my feet. “Oh, really? You thought about me that much?”
I smile, kiss his cheek, and walk inside. “Yes. And about all the things you've already done to me.”
He follows me into the house, his eyes full of lust.