Page 117 of November

Ava laughed again and asked, “So, you’d be okay with me being naked in front of everyone?”

“Now that you mention it… Not really, no. But I don’t know that I can say that because Iamsometimes half-naked on billboards, so…”

“I’ve seen them. You’re even better in person,” Ava said with a smirk.

“Are you two just going to have sex right here?” Logan asked as she joined them.

“No,” Ava replied.

“Thank God,” India said.

Logan took their order then, and within minutes, they had refills for India and Ava, a drink for Stephania, and Rory had joined their table, taking the seat that India would have loved for Maisie to take instead. India hadn’t planned ongoing out tonight. She’d wanted to go toChapter & Verseto see if they could talk, but knowing Maisie might not want that, she had avoided the bookshop and had spent the rest of her day in meetings and in her office, trying to push Maisie out of her mind. When Ava had texted asking her if she wanted to go to Candace’s bar to hang out with her and Stephania, she had almost said no, but Ava had really wanted her to get to know the woman, and Stephania wasn’t in town for long. Thinking it might also help take her mind off Maisie, India had agreed, but she’d been silly to think that these two could distract her because it was clear that Ava and Stephania were already crazy about each other.

Still, they talked for a while longer, and Logan brought their food, joining them as well when her shift ended. India had moved over to allow her some space to sit down next to Rory, but by the time dinner was over, she was done being surrounded by couples. Needing to get out of there, she politely excused herself and went home.

When she sat on her sofa, contemplating opening a bottle of red, her phone rang. India checked the screen and saw that it was her brother. Deciding she’d deal with him later, she clicked to ignore the call, but a text came in immediately after.

Colter Stone: Hey. Can you call me?

Seconds later, another text came in.

Colter Stone: I got you the permits you need. Or, Iwillget them for you once they file for them. You’re good to build whenever.

India wanted to throw her phone across the room, but that wouldn’t solve her problems. Then, another text came in.

Colter Stone: India? I’m trying here.

And yet, he still didn’t get it. He thought trying meant helping himself, so that was what he was doing. He believed that helping his sister would make things better between the two of them, and she would leave him alone about being a better person. She didn’t have the energy to explain it to himagain, though. Instead, she picked up her phone and opened her messages with Maisie. The most recent ones were all the photos India had sent her from the game, and that made her smile. She scrolled up, finding one where Maisie had been standing on the field, laughing because one of the Low Expectations players had pretended to do a striptease on second base. India had laughed at that, too.

India Sheridan: If you need space, just tell me, and I’ll leave you alone, but I wanted to apologize for earlier today. I shouldn’t have just tried to step in and fix something for you. I didn’t mean it to come across that way, but I can understand how it probably felt to you. I’m sorry, Maise.

She hit send before she could talk herself out of it and tossed the phone on the sofa. It wasn’t a wine kind of night, after all, but she could make herself a decaf cappuccino and sip it in the bathtub with her nice mild lemon bubble bath. She wasn’t sure she would ever be able to use the machine now without thinking about Maisie, which made her sad, but she made her coffee and took it back to the sofa to grab her phone, which needed to be charged. That was when she saw Maisie’s reply.

Maisie Lincoln: It’s not your fault. It’s mine. I’m sorry I walked away today. I didn’t want to take my mood out on you.

India sat down on the sofa and started typing.

India Sheridan: But that’s part of it, right? When you’re dating someone, you take your mood out on them. Obviously, I don’t mean it like that. I meant that I should’ve let you vent and talk to me without trying to make it all better.

The three dots popped up, and a few seconds later, she had a reply.

Maisie Lincoln: I should confess something to you. I saw you at the bar tonight.

India typed back instantly.

India Sheridan: Candace’s?

Maisie Lincoln: Yes, with Ava.

India Sheridan: Ava and her girlfriend. Or, at least, the supermodel she’s dating.

Maisie Lincoln: Yes, I saw her, too. I didn’t mean it like I thought you two were on a date or something. Just that I saw you, and I didn’t say anything.

India Sheridan: Why not?

Maisie Lincoln: Lainey wanted to go out to dinner to tell me something, and she suggested Candace’s because she likes their burgers. I didn’t think you’d be there.

India Sheridan: But that doesn’t explain why you didn’t come over, Maise.