Chapter 38
After everyone else had left, Fiona was determined to not be weird. She and Porter were going to have to see each other eventually. It was inevitable. They were neighbors. She had to learn how to be friendly with him, if not actual friends.
She busied herself by snapping a picture of the flowers David and Porter had brought over, and tagging Hearth in a thank you post.
“The floors turned out really amazing,” Porter said. “Nice choice.”
“Thank you,” Fiona said, and she had to agree. They did brighten up the space tremendously.
“And the paint looks great,” he said. Fiona detected a hint of nerves in his tone.
“Thanks,” Fiona told him. “I thought Stella was going to quit the business over that paint color, but we finally agreed on one.”
Fiona cleared her throat.
“And thank you again for staying. It’s really not that big of a deal, the store offered to deliver the sink and hook it up. I don’t think too much can go wrong.”
She laughed, but Porter’s expression turned serious.
“Oh,” he said. “Do you…want me to leave?”
“No,” Fiona told him, just a beat too late. “I just meant that if you have other things to do…I can probably handle this. They said they’d be here by 10, but you know how these things can go.”
Porter nodded, and sat on one of the folding chairs they’d brought.
Uncomfortable now, Fiona cleared her throat. She wasn’t sure what to do, so she took her coffee and sat on the chair across from him.
“Look, Fiona,” he said, his eyes intent on hers. “I’m sorry about leaving you in the dark and pushing you into this space. I just want you to be happy, but I think I went too far. So, I’m sorry. Again.”
Fiona shook her head. She was sure she’d never be ready for this conversation, but there was no time like the present. “No, it’s…you didn’t do anything wrong.” She nervously tucked her hair behind her ear. “There’s nothing to be sorry about.”
“There is,” he said. “Because we stopped talking.”
Fiona drew in a shaky breath, and shook the crumbs off her hands.
“Things were complicated. You were my boss, and now you’re…my landlord, I guess.”
He stared at her, a mixture of complicated emotions in his face. She was making excuses, and she was certain he knew that.
“I don’t know if I ever got to tell you how grateful I am for this,” she said, motioning to the space around her. “It really did mean a lot to me. And my friends.”
He nodded, his face just a bit pained.
“How’s the restaurant?” she asked, changing the subject. “The lounge is looking really incredible.”
“It’s going to be fantastic,” he said, brightening just a bit. “It should be done next week. Took longer than planned, but I know the staff is excited for all the construction to be done.”
“That’s great,” she said, and reached for his hand. It was an impulsive move. Honestly, she didn’t even think about it. But the way he froze when she touched him made her think it had been a misstep.
“I’m…sorry,” she said, but he held onto her hand when she started to pull away.
“Fiona…” he started. “I’m going to say something, and I’m sorry if it makes you uncomfortable. But I think I need to say it. I really, really miss you.”
She looked at him, her eyes wide.
There were so many things she wanted to say right then.
She missed him too.
She desperately wanted to go out with him again.
She’d almost called him a dozen times over the past couple months.
Fiona stared into his eyes, some unseen magnetic force trying to pull her into his arms.
“Porter, I—“
A knock on the door startled them both.
“Wow,” she said, standing abruptly. “They are right on time with the sink. That never happens, right?”
She jogged over to the front door and opened it for the man standing there with a clipboard.
“Sink for Fiona?” he asked.
“That’s me,” she said, and signed for the delivery.
“I’ll be right back,” he said, and headed back downstairs.
“Um,” Porter said, looking everywhere but her. “I’m going to see if he needs help.”
He stayed for most of the sink installation, and left just as it was finishing up. Fiona watched him leave, a familiar ache in her heart, and wondered if she was doing the right thing.