Page 17 of Healing Conviction

Go after her.

The phantom urge pushed him in the back. But doubt held on to him like a leash.

What if he’d been wrong this whole time? What if she actuallydidlike Matt? What if Draco’s failure to protect her had made him miss his chance?

By the time he could work out all the questions in his mind, she was long gone.

His phone chimed. He tugged it from his jeans pocket, hoping she’d texted, but it was only the notification that the garage door was being opened. Security cam footage took over the screen, and he watched dumbstruck as her purple Chevy Spark left through the facility gates. He watched them close slowly behind her before putting his phone back in his pocket, numb to the fact that he’d let her fucking leave.

Yet another chime on his phone snapped him out of his daze, and he snatched his phone from his pocket to see ifthiswas a text from Nora.

Devil: If I were you, I’d make sure that shit ends early tonight

Despite never having told him, his best friend knew exactly how he felt about Nora.

If he knows, how the fuck doesn’t she?

He shook his head before typing out a text, putting on the screen his biggest fear with her.

What if I’m already too late?

There was only a second of waiting before his phone chimed again.

Devil: That girl was by your bedside every gd day for the past year. You’re awake now. So wake the fuck up. Get your girl, Draco.

A thrill of excitement made his chest feel light as the screen dimmed.

Wake the fuck up. Get my girl.

Now that sounded like a goddamn plan.

CHAPTERSEVEN

“Nora, babe, how’s your tomato soup? I still think you would’ve loved that duckcon fit.”

She felt her lip try to curl up at the suggestion, but quickly relaxed the muscle. There was absolutely no way she was going to eat Daffy Duck for dinner, no matter how fancy the restaurant or how delicious the “best food in town” was supposed to be. How would she be able to enjoy it when all she could imagine was the adorable cartoon character’s voice in her head?

“You’redithspicable.”

“Babe?”

“Huh? What?” Her head snapped up to see a confused Matt and an annoyed waitress. “Oh, sorry. Um… Looney Tunes, anyone? No?” Blank stares. She laid her spoon back into her half empty bowl, before clearing her throat and scratching the back of her neck. “Guess not. Sorry. Um, what were you saying?”

“The soup, babe? Did you like it?”

“The tomato soup is fine, thanks.”

Matt’s bright smile dimmed before he turned it back on for the waitress. “Thank you, ma’am. We’ll get the check, then. Thecoq au vinwas excellent, by the way.” The waitress beamed as if she’d made it herself and tried once again to spark up a conversation with him.

Aside from the look of irritation she’d given Nora, the woman had been all heart eyes over Matt. Of course, he didn’t notice. Matt was the clueless romantic, totally ignoring all the women who adored him.

Which, try as she might, was not something she could do. He was great.Safe. Still, the thought of sharing herself with him was terrifying. The man would run the other direction, or worse, mold her into something that fit his narrative better than her own.

She picked at her itchy pastel cardigan over the sundress she’d chosen for the occasion and tried not to dwell on how it was already happening.

Why she always fell into old patterns, seeking approval in people that would nevergether, she didn’t know. The loveable, effortlessly upbeat side character was all fun and games until it came to analyzing her own plotline. It was easier to show people the version they thought they wanted to see, rather than give away the real pieces of herself.

Apparently giving up on small talk with Matt, the waitress took their dessert menus and smiled at him before giving Nora another sour look. Nora watched as the lucky lady weaved through the restaurant, disappearing into the back with one last look toward their table.