Page 28

Nora shakes her head. “I don’t want to go home.”

“Then you’ll stay in the guest room.” I take another step away from her.

“Oh. I—” She brings her fingers to her un-kissed lips. “I’m sorry. I thought, um, yeah. Nothing.”

“You’re not yourself, Nora.” I stop myself from putting a hand on her shoulder. “I’m not interested in any of this if you’re not fully you.”

“Wow.” She expels some air through her nose. “In all my life, I never,” is all she says. She sinks into a chair. “Okay. But just so you know, I don’t do things like this when I’m sober. Ever.”

“All the more reason to stop now.”

“You’re not even tempted?” Nora’s probably not used to people saying no to her every whim.

“It’s not about that. You’ve had too much to drink. You can no longer consent.”

“Not even to a kiss?” she asks.

“Not even to a kiss.”

“You’re right, but… you’re also a little bit wrong, you know.”

“Guest room?” I draw up my eyebrows.

Nora shakes her head. “Nah. I need to go home. Imani will come and get me.”

“Imani?” Poor woman. “She just left. I’ll take you. It’s not a problem.”

“I have a car service. I’m not some precious cargo that needs to be dropped off in person.”

I push that glass of water in her direction.

She knocks back a few large gulps, then buries her head in her hands. “Oh god,” she mumbles. “I can already feel tomorrow’s mortification.”

“How about I promise you here and now you have nothing to be mortified about. We’re good. These things happen and, actually, nothing happened. So don’t worry about it.”

“If only it worked that way, but you can’t absolve me in advance of what I’m going to regret later.”

“Sure I can. I’m doing it now. If you feel the urge to apologize to me tomorrow, don’t.” I look for my phone. “I’m going to send you a text. Don’t open it until tomorrow morning so it can serve as a reminder.” I type a message, then show it to her before I press send.No apologies required. Your friend, Mimi.

Nora chuckles. “You’re something else.Friend.”

“So I’ve been told.” I finally feel comfortable enough to flash her a big, broad smile. “Come on. Let’s get you home.”

“Thank you, Mimi. I’m serious. For being so courteous and not taking advantage.”

“That’s what friends are for,” I say.

CHAPTER13

NORA

Mimi drives me home in silence. I’m ferried around in cars all the time, but never like this. To sit in the front with her is intimate, especially after the stunt I just tried to pull. I tried to kiss her. Why, oh why?

I don’t understand. I’m not sure this is something I can rehash with Juan until I figure it out myself, seeing as Mimi is his boyfriend’s mother. And poor Imani. I acted like such a diva with her. I made a real mess of things tonight, which is exactly why I decline most invitations.

It’s late, and traffic’s mercifully light. We turn into my street. I open the gate via a facial recognition app on my phone.

“I don’t suppose you want to come in?” I want to get out of this car as soon as possible so I can start pretending none of this ever happened.