“Everything done?” my mom asked, wrapping her arm around my shoulder and dropping a kiss on the top of my head.
I looked around my empty apartment, expecting to feel sad, expecting to miss it just a little, but I was ready to move on. This apartment had been a part of the old me. The Sophie that had dated guys like Nick and let co-workers like Tim tell her what she was worth. I wasn’t sure who the new Sophie was, but I knew I was done with the old one.
“I’m ready to go,” I told my mom, and she stood by as I locked the apartment for the last time and dropped the keys off at my landlord’s door.
“Oh,” Mama said as we approached our cars, parked next to each other in the driveway. “I almost forgot.” Leaning through her open window, her butt sticking way up in the air, she seemed to be grabbing something she had left on her passenger seat. Wiggling out, she winked at the small crowd of tenants who had happened to catch a glimpse of her impromptu show. If I wasn’t used to it by now, I would have rolled my eyes, but I was more interested in the thick envelope in her hands.
“This arrived this morning.”
The return address was Mandy’s, which made sense since she was the only one besides payroll that had my new address.
“I’ll see you back at home, OK, hon?” Mama gave me a kiss on the cheek.
I barely managed a nod. “Uh-huh.” I stared down at the envelope. What could Mandy possibly be sending me? I managed to shake myself out of my trance long enough to wave at my mom as she pulled away.
I got into my car and tore open the package. A stack of glossy photographs slid out onto my lap, accompanied by a folded piece of paper. I picked up the first picture and my heart stopped.
It was Nathan, looking as adorable as ever, at the animal shelter. He was seated with one of the kids from Yvette’s school while she read and he balanced a handful of kittens. I flipped through the rest of the photographs, finding more of the same. Nathan in his uniform with Yvette, Nathan outside the animal shelter, Nathan posing with a beautiful tabby cat in his arms, Nathan holding up a picture book and grinning. But he didn’t look happy. There was a definite sadness in his eyes and my heart ached just looking at him. For a moment, I cursed Mandy. She really was the world’s worst wing-woman, sending these to me. I wasn’t the one who needed to be won over. I was head over heels for the guy. He had rejected me.
A tear slid down my cheek and I pushed aside the photos, revealing the piece of paper that had accompanied them. The piece of paper I had too quickly forgotten. I unfolded it and my pulse skipped at the sight of the familiar handwriting.
I carry your heart with me(I carry it in/my heart)I am never without it(anywhere/I go you go, my dear; and whatever is done/by only me is your doing, my darling) -e.e. cummings.
And beneath it:
I’m sorry. Nathan.
My hands shaking, I grabbed my phone and dialed my mama’s number.
“Hon?” she answered.
“Change of plans, Mama,” I told her, starting my car. “I won’t be home tonight. I’m going to Austin.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
I should have changed, I thought, as I walked into a conference room buzzing with journalists and photographers. At least my hair looked good, I thought, pushing the brown waves over my shoulder, realizing my hands were shaking. Oh god, what was I doing? Being brave, I hoped. Smoothing down my plain gray T-shirt and rubbing my suddenly damp palms on my worn, but thankfully freshly washed jeans, I scanned the room for a familiar face.
And there was Mandy, sitting towards the front with Chris. When she saw me, her face lit up like a Christmas tree and she gave Chris a nudge. He glanced back and his smile was just as broad. Some of the nervousness in my stomach subsided as they rushed over to me, both enveloping me in a hug at the same time.
“I was afraid you weren’t going to come.” Mandy was practically vibrating with excitement.
“I just got your letter,” I informed her as she began to fiddle with my hair. “Are you grooming me?” I asked, both amused and grateful.
“Oh no,” she assured me, but had opened her purse and pulled out a tube of lip gloss and mascara, which she handed to me and I immediately took. “I just thought you might want a touch-up.”
I laughed and leaned down to watch myself in the compact mirror as I applied the shimmering gloss and much-needed pop to my unadorned eyes. At least I hadn’t been crying that morning and I looked clean and fresh, not puffy and sad. But still, even the last-minute makeup couldn’t hide the nervousness written all over my face.
“Take a deep breath,” Mandy demanded, and I did. It was going to be the first time I saw Nathan since our fight and I hadn’t prepared at all. In fact, the only thing I had been preparing for in the past few weeks was the possibility that my heart was going to be completely and irrevocably broken for the rest of my life. I knew I was being dramatic, but I had fallen hard and fast for this guy and right now, his romantic note in my pocket, and I was hoping that he was ready to return those feelings.
“It’s going to be fine,” Chris added, putting a big, strong hand on my shoulder. “Dude’s been miserable since you left.”
I shouldn’t have been glad at that information but considering I had spent our time apart shoveling ice cream into my mouth and crying at my favorite romantic movies, I felt those feelings of pain were only fair considering the circumstances.
“He kept asking about you,” Mandy confessed. “Only he wouldn’t do it directly. He kept asking about the article, trying to be all subtle, but totally failing. He was completely surprised when I told him you weren’t doing the piece on him anymore.”
“I tried to tell him,” I explained, but Mandy just shrugged.
“Men.”
“Hey!” Chris objected. “I don’t think that’s fair.”
“How long did it take you to ask me out?” she reminded him. “And who had to prompt you to do it?”
Chris looked appropriately sheepish. “OK, I guess you’re right.”
“And that’s why I love you,” she responded, her face immediately going red. “Uh, I mean…” she muttered, looking down at the ground.
My eyes widened. Had she just said “I love you” for the first time? Oh my god! I moved back so Chris could act accordingly and thankfully he did.
He immediately took her into his arms.
“I love you too, Mandy,” he told her and gave her a sweet kiss. She giggled in his arms, her eyes moist and her face glowing with happiness.
I felt myself getting a little teary at the romantic gesture, and when I turned away to give them some privacy, I found myself face-to-face with a pair of Ryder green eyes.
“We were hoping you’d come,” Nathan’s mom Sara said, before sweeping me into a hug. I hugged her back, needing the comfort and security of a mom right now. Any mom would do.
“I think Nathan wanted me here,” I told her, holding up the piece of paper that Mandy had sent me with the photographs. At least, I hoped that what he had intended.
“Of course he did,” Sara took my arm and led me to the front row where she and her family were seated. They all greeted me with the same warmth and excitement that Sara had and I took a seat, feeling both welcome and nervous.
“How is he?” I asked Matt, Nathan’s dad, who was next to me.
“He’s good.” He gave me a smile. “A little grumpy, but I’m pretty sure that will change the moment he sees you.”
“He missed you.” Sara leaned towards me.