“I want her to enjoy her stay here,” Bliss said her voice sounding sad.
“She will, baby. I swear Lila Kate is just quiet. I’ve known her my entire life, and that’s just her.”
Bliss sighed then nodded. “Okay. Well, it’s obvious she doesn’t care for you,” she said looking back at me. “Maybe I could take her shopping and invite Crimson instead. I bet she’d like your sister.”
This was starting to annoy me.
Nate gave Bliss a smile that said he adored her and wished they were alone. Normally, that made me uncomfortable or nauseous, but right now I couldn’t seem to care. I needed to know why I’d pissed off Lila. I didn’t like Bliss being frustrated with me either. Or let down.
“If you’re finished eating you’d better go. So she’ll feel more comfortable coming out here,” Bliss said with an apologetic frown.
I was done. I needed to talk to Larissa anyway.
“Yeah, I’m finished. Thanks for breakfast,” I said although I hadn’t wanted to eat in the first place. So now my stomach felt even worse. “It was delicious.” I stood and looked at Nate. “I didn’t mean to make her uncomfortable. Last night I thought we got along fine.”
“No worries. Seriously, that was typical Lila Kate. Bliss just doesn’t know her yet. She’ll get used to it.”
Again, I disagreed and felt like maybe Nate didn’t know her that well. I’d seen a much different girl last night . . . didn’t I? Was that all an illusion from the drinking? Had I thought she was different because I’d been so sloppy drunk?
But damn if I could make up that smile and laugh. That had been real. I know it had.
“Okay, well, thanks for having me,” I said again and then headed for the door. I wanted to find Lila and talk to her alone. But with these two in the house that wasn’t going to happen. I could just hope I found her again before she took off on her trip.
Closing the door behind me, I walked out to my truck. Before I got in, I paused and glanced up at the windows. I’m not sure why, but I had sensed her. Sure enough, there Lila stood watching me in the window to the left looking down. She had her arms crossed over her chest defensively, and there was hurt in her eyes I could see from all the way out here. That was going to bother me.
I waited there. Staring back at Lila. Wishing she’d come out here but knowing she wouldn’t. Finally, the curtain swung back, and she was gone. I didn’t leave right away. I waited a moment to see if she was gone or just hiding from me. When nothing happened I finally climbed into my truck and left. I needed to some answers.
Lila Kate
I WATCHED THROUGH the curtains until he left. Our encounter shouldn’t be a big deal. I’d thought he was a one-night stand. A guy I’d never see again. Just because he was too drunk to remember me that well or that we’d had sex—which was blatantly obvious—shouldn’t bother me. Besides, I’d be leaving here in a couple of days. It wasn’t like I was going to see him again.
He was in love with Bliss. I imagined most guys were in love with Bliss. She was the kind of girl guys fell in love with. Beautiful, smart, outgoing, confident, and still kind.
I had watched Nate Finlay date so many females over the years I’d lost count. Even when he was engaged, I hadn’t seen him look at a woman like he did Bliss.
It still stung. I hadn’t been a wild one-night stand. I had been a drunken rebound. If I had truly had sex with a guy I would never see again, then I wouldn’t have known exactly what it had been for him. What I did know were the things he had said to me, the way he’d made me feel desirable and sexy had all been crap. He had just been drunk, and apparently a master with words while intoxicated.
I couldn’t hate him for that. I could, however, keep my distance. That was best. I didn’t think Bliss would be scheduling any meals with him again while I was here. She’d hoped for something with that setup. I guess deep down Bliss knew her best friend was in love with her and was trying to move his attention elsewhere.
A knock on the door to the bedroom I was staying in interrupted my thoughts. That would be Bliss coming to check on me. To see if I wanted to do something. I was expecting that.
“Come in,” I called turning to face her as she entered the room.
Her smile was genuine. She was the sort of person that you saw the kindness in their eyes. I didn’t know many people like that back home. At least, not females. If they weren’t close friends or family, they were rather vicious. A curse that came with growing up among the elite.
“I hope I didn’t interrupt. I know you needed to call your mother.”
I still needed to do that. “No, not at all.”
She looked relieved. “I thought maybe we could do some shopping, have lunch at Nate’s grandfather’s place, and visit a few friends of mine. All girls this time,” she blushed as she said the last part. I was glad we weren’t going to recap that breakfast and my night with Nate. Bliss wasn’t the nosey type. I liked that about her, too.
“Okay, yes, that sounds nice. I don’t want to keep you from anything, though. Don’t feel as if you need to entertain me.”
Bliss beamed at me then. “When Nate said you were coming to visit I took off work. I wanted to have plenty of time to show you around.”
If I lived here, I think Bliss and I could be good friends. But I wouldn’t live anywhere for a long time. This was just my first stop.
“Thank you, that’s very thoughtful of you. I felt as if I sprung this on you and Nate. It was very last-minute planning.”
Bliss’s eyes seemed to understand more than I had told her. “I had to get away too once. I didn’t get far, but it was enough. Sometimes space from what we know is needed.”
I simply nodded. Because she was correct. Although there was much more to mine. I didn’t imagine she needed to recreate herself. Find a new Bliss. She seemed perfect as she was. My mother was perfect like her. My father was outgoing and handsome. Everyone loved being around him. How had I turned out so . . . so . . . different?
I couldn’t blame them. They’d do anything to give me a full life. We were a close family. They’d been excellent role models. But I was the odd little duckling. I preferred books and solitude. I was proper and polite. That I did blame on my mother. However, my mother appeared dainty and elegant when she did things like eat potato skins with flatware.
“I’m ready whenever you are. Just come on down when you’re ready to leave.”
I wasn’t about to have her waiting for me downstairs. That was rude. And although I was trying to be less of a rule follower and more carefree I wouldn’t be rude.