And I knew, too, that this would happen. That you would betray me to save your reputation.”
“Betray you? How can I betray someone who isn’t interested in commitment? Who tells me at every possible opportunity that I’m not enough for them. That me, a life with me, could never compare to what you have in DC. With Alima.”
“Not fucking Alima again. I’m turning her down, okay? She’s no threat. When I imagine my future, it’s with you. Not Alima. I love you, Sophie. Only you. How many different ways do I have to tell you?”
Sophie stilled and leaned back a little. “Turning what down?”
Fuck. I pinched the bridge of my nose. I didn’t mean to let that slip.
“Turning what down, Nora?”
“Her marriage proposal.”
“Marriage. Alima... She proposed to you? When?”
“The day she arrived. Did you not hear the second part of that? That I love only you? That I imagine a life with you?”
“Turning down. Pretty sure that’s future tense.”
“I was going to call her tomorrow.”
“Why not last night? Or this morning? Or when she fucking asked you? I’m pretty sure that was after our kiss in the car.”
“And I didn’t say yes, did I?”
“So, if we hadn’t kissed, or if you hadn’t come back, you would have?”
“You and I were nothing to each other a week ago, Sophie. It is completely unfair for you to be angry about the life I had without you, the people I’ve loved and been with.”
“Sounds like you’re hedging your bets. With both of us.”
“Honestly, Sophie? I was waiting to make sure you didn’t fucking betray me again, but it looks like you’re going to. Logan won’t accept us, will she?”
Sophie sighed. “I don’t know. She said something last night... It doesn’t matter.”
“Bullshit. You won’t come out if it would hurt your relationship with Logan.” I heard myself finally, how angry and hateful I sounded. I was lashing out at Sophie when all she was doing was asking fair questions of me, holding me accountable for my actions. My voice gentled. “I don’t want you to risk your relationship with Logan.”
“So, where does that leave us?”
I took Sophie’s hand and held it to my chest, chanting peace, calm, peace, calm inside my head. I love this woman, and I’ll fight to win her.
“I want to spend as much time with you as I can before I leave. We’ll figure everything out. I believe we’re meant to be together, one way or another. I didn’t realize until I saw you at Mel’s that you’ve held my heart in the palm of your hand all these years. Right now, I’m offering you my heart, Sophie. My soul. Can you promise me a future?”
Sophie closed her eyes and exhaled. “I want to, I really do. But, I don’t know, Nora. I really don’t.”
I dropped her hand and stepped back. Sophie’s phone vibrated in her purse.
“That’s probably Logan.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“We can’t leave it like this.”
“Sophie, you know where I stand. Where we go from here is your decision, and I’m not going to beg you to make it.”
I unlocked the front door and opened it for her. She left without a glance or a word.
twenty-three
sophie
“How was your meeting?”
I poked at my chicken fajita salad and mentally went through my schedule for the week. Conference calls, meetings, taking Logan to Austin for her doctor’s appointment, making personal calls to potential donors for the fund raiser next Saturday, grocery shopping, dinner, laundry. Hardly a minute to myself. But, I had to find a way to see Nora.
It’s your decision, and I’m not going to beg you to make it.
There was no way to see Nora at night without Charlie. Sure, I could say we wanted to visit as much as possible before she returned to DC, but Charlie would inevitably want to come. He had a history with Nora, too. No, there was no possible way I could spend time with Charlie and Nora together. Not after this morning.
Which meant I was going to have to sneak out, and Charlie is a light sleeper.
“Mom.”
“Hmm?”
We sat at the kitchen table eating leftovers. Charlie scrolled through his email, or Facebook or Twitter on his phone, and didn’t seem to be paying attention, but Logan was watching me with one of her suspicious expressions as if she knew I was about to disappoint her in some way.
“How was your meeting?” Logan said.
“Oh.” I shrugged one shoulder. “Fine.”
“Are there a lot of people there on Saturday mornings?”
“Usually.”
“How many were there today?”
“I didn’t count.”
“A ballpark.”
Charlie looked up from