The Hating Season (Seasons #2) - K.A.Linde Page 0,62

the cake.”

“Really?” I asked in exasperation. “Me showing up with someone else when she said she wasn’t interested.”

“Do you know how to read between the lines at all? You think she wanted to see you with someone else? You think that saying she can’t be with you is the same thing as she’s not interested?”

“What else am I supposed to believe?”

Lark shook her head. “Put yourself in her shoes. She’s getting a divorce. She’s fragile. And she’s worried about her career.”

“I know all of that.”

“Then, why are you being an idiot? I have no idea why she likes you.”

I came up short. My eyes shifted to Lark’s in surprise. “What? What do you mean, she likes me?”

“Why do you think she slept with you?” Lark asked.

“I’ve slept with plenty of women who didn’t like me.”

Lark held up her hand. “I don’t need to know that.”

“But English, I didn’t think…”

“You’re dense. Both of you. Why do you think she was upset in the first place? Why do you think she left?”

“She left?”

Something sparked in my chest. I didn’t fucking know what it was. But I didn’t want her to leave. I wanted her to tell me exactly what she was thinking. No more games. No more cat and mouse. Just the truth.

“Yes. She went home. Obviously, she didn’t enjoy watching you with Poppy.”

“Fuck,” I whispered.

“Now, you’re getting it.”

I shook my head, shaking something loose. I’d been an idiot. I was mad at English for taking me at face value, but I’d taken her at it. She’d pushed me away because she liked me. She felt something for me that… scared her? It was unfathomable that someone like English would do that. It had never crossed my mind.

“I have to go after her.”

“Erm… wait, what?” Lark asked. “Is that a good idea?”

“Fuck good ideas,” I said abruptly. “I need to hear it from her.”

“If this is just to pad your ego—”

“It’s not,” I said, cutting her off.

Lark looked at me, really looked at me. She tilted her head as if seeing something different in my expression than she ever had before. I wasn’t showing her the Upper East Side playboy that I always wore. This was just me. And I needed to find English right now.

“Where is she?”

“She’s at her apartment.”

“I’ve never been.”

Lark scoffed. “Seriously?”

I hadn’t thought about how strange that was until this moment. We’d always met at my place. Everything, except her orgasms, had been about me. Fuck. I needed to talk to her. I couldn’t wait until tomorrow.

“Tell me how to get there.”

And to my surprise, she did.

“What are you going to do about Poppy?” Lark asked.

I shook my head. “We need to get her help. She’s worse off than I thought. I swear she’s gone to the restroom two or three times already. Can we send her back to rehab?”

“Jesus, Court,” Lark said with a shake of her head. “I’ll handle it.”

“You sure?”

“Go! Before English changes her mind.”

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. I felt light for the first time in so long. “Thanks, Lark.”

“For the kick in the ass?”

I winked at her. “For being a good friend.”

Then, I left Lark to deal with Poppy and rushed out of The Plaza.

24

English

My apartment still didn’t feel like home. Even though I’d been living there for two months, it didn’t quite belong to me. Likely because Josh had purchased it and we’d planned to live here together. A guilt gift. One I probably should have gotten rid of. I would have, if it wasn’t perfect.

Still, it felt cold tonight.

Fall blew into the city, and the full glass windows overlooking Manhattan did nothing to trap the heat inside. But it was the empty space and the broken promises and the crushed dreams that made it so frigid.

I tugged off my black party dress and haphazardly threw it against my desk chair. I replaced it with my oldest, softest, comfiest black sweatpants and an oversize sweatshirt. My long hair went up onto the top of my head with a wayward scrunchie. And I settled onto the couch to watch some Friends and not think about the shit night I’d had.

I was halfway into the pivot episode when someone knocked on my door. I glanced up in confusion. No one had knocked on my door since I moved here, except when I ordered takeout. I really did not want to talk to a stranger right now.

With a huff of frustration, I paused the episode and went to answer the door. I pulled it