shit. I sit up and wait for Harp’s shower to run before dialing his number and rushing for the balcony.
“Hello?” someone with an unfamiliar and deep voice answers.
“Hi . . . um . . . is Nolan around?” I ask, forcing myself to sound casual.
“Oh, nah, he’s at home packing some stuff with Sharon. He left his phone in my car.”
I frown heavily. “Who is Sharon?”
The man on the line hesitates for a brief moment. “From what I’ve heard she was one of Nolan’s mother’s students and his ex . . . I think. Sweet girl. Pretty face. Blonde hair. A pretty nice body. Do you know her?”
I feel a squeeze around my heart but I force myself to keep it cool. “No, I don’t,” I mutter tightly. “May I ask who this is?
“Tike. I’m Nolan’s manager. I’m helping him move some stuff out. I’m headed to storage right now but I can let him know you’ve called.”
“No thanks, Tike. That won’t be necessary, but you can deliver another message for me, though. Let Nolan know Natalie called and we’re done. I hope he’s having a ton of fun with Sharon right now.”
“Oh . . . uh . . . alright.” I end the call furiously. There are so many screams inside of me wanting to let out but instead I remain silent. How can I be silent when hearing he’s with another girl—obviously a hot ex-girlfriend at that? No wonder he hasn’t been talking to me.
I grit my teeth, forcing myself to bite back on the worthless tears. He’s worthless and now I really want nothing to do with him. I should have known it was bound to come. Nolan and I were too perfect. I had too much faith in someone like him.
To ignore the tears and the annoyance I feel brewing in my chest, I turn around and rush inside. I hurry to my room, shuffling and tossing my clothes aside until I find the pair of jeans I wore on the first day I met Tyler.
I pull the crumpled sheet of paper out, staring at his number for a few debatable seconds. I know it’s wrong and immature as hell to go to someone just because I don’t want to feel but I know it’s going to be worth it. I want to do it because I’m so sick of being hurt. I’m tired of falling for guys who will only destroy me. Damn it. When am I going to learn my fucking lesson? I knew there was a hidden reason behind his attitude when I’d visited. There’s no telling how long that girl has been around.
Biting at my bottom lip with a pounding heart, I finally dial Tyler’s number and place the phone against my ear. Each ring makes me nervous, jittery, but proud that I’m actually doing it. Proud that I’m not crying . . . yet.
“Hello?” His voice is deep through the phone.
“Hi, Tyler. It’s Natalie.”
“Oh, what’s up? About time I got a call. I was starting to catch a case of low self-esteem,” he teases.
“Yeah.” I force a giggle. “Hey, you remember when we talked about that “pause” in my relationship?”
“Sure do. Don’t tell me you’re calling to deny me.”
“No. The pause is no longer here—actually, we’ll never be put into play again. I’ll be at your party tomorrow so make sure you look for me.”
Chapter Fourteen
Nolan
“Do you need help with anything else?” Sharon asks, watching me bend over to pick up a box that’s loaded with picture frames. “I have nothing else to do today and it seems like you guys have a bunch more to pack up and take to storage.”
“I think we’ll be okay. You’ve already done enough.” I carry the box outside and drop it behind the car. I dust my hands off then look back, realizing she’s followed me out.
“Nolan, I know you hate me,” she says. “Shit, I hate me, too. I was so wrong to you and I’m sorry but I’m hoping you can forgive me. It happened three years ago and I’ve learned a lot since then.”
“Kinda too late for that.” I step around her to get to the house again.
“So you’re never going to trust me again?”
“No.”
“Never going to at least kiss me again?”
I grimace over my shoulder as I kick the door open. “Hell no. Seriously, you can leave,” I say, spinning around to face her. “Mills, Tike, and I can handle it from here.”