Page 123 of Things I Read About

“No,” I say, my voice shaking.

“Doesn’t get any clearer than that. Go next-door, dude. Dean’s got her now.”

Nate grits his teeth.“I'vegot her. She ismine.Move, Kat, or I will move you.”

“Nate, no. Just go, please,” I plead, still standing tall but starting to tremble again.

He is panting, his gaze on me intense. “Youaremine, Sally. It killed me to be away from you. I’m dying. Please, just…” His shoulders slump and his voice breaks. “Just let me explain.”

“You… you’re just over stimulated.”

“Over stimulated?”

“Yes. Later tonight you’ll remember yourself and it’ll bekiddoandI’m just a jobandwe will never work.Like the last three times before this. So, save us both the journey, okay? You need to go.”

“I won’t. Sally. Dammit! I know I messed up but—”

“Nate!” I call out, needing him to shut up. Needing him to stop before he re-opens all my emotional wounds.

“Listen here, I will call your boss in a heartbeat. Get it together.” Kat’s loud voice and wide stance, hands on hips, are a sight to behold as Nate towers above her and takes up the whole hotel room.

“Sally?” His eyes look as pained as I feel. Tears gather on his lashes. His voice is breaking. A lot like my heart would be, if it hadn’t already been shattered by him. Again and again. Metaphorically. And maybe physically, since I had to take anti-inflammatory drugs for three days. I have to look away.

“It’s over, Nate.” Kat says softly. “Go.”

Defeated, he turns toward the door. I can’t watch him go, again. I just look down. I hear him though, when he turns. His voice is softer now too.

“It’s not over, Sally. I’ll prove it to you.”

The door clicks shut after him and Kat rushes to me just as I plop down on the edge of the second bed.

“You did it.” Kat wraps an arm around me. “You stood tall and said no and it was downright inspirational. I can’t wait to tell Sadie all about it. You’ll be featured in her next book, for sure.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Did I take up all my space?” I sniff, determined not to let any tears fall.

“I don’t know what that means but hell yes, you werePeakPeak Sally. The peak-est.”

I laugh. “That’s not a word.”

“It is now,” she says, hopping up to answer the door.

I brace myself. Skye and Sam will be here shortly, but Sadie hustles in carrying what looks like every single sugary item the closest vending machine offers. I gladly take some chocolate to inhale while Kat gives her a detailed account of the last few minutes.

“So? Sal? Do you think he will?” Sadie asks into her can of soda.

“Will what?”

“Prove it to you.”

“Oh, no.” I wave off the idea. “He’ll revert back to his distant self in a few minutes. Tomorrow he’ll act like I’m invisible.”

“I disagree.” Sadie smiles.

Kat and I both look up but it’s Kat who asks, “Wait, what do you know?” She can’t push for more though because Skye arrives at the door, and with her, a SamStorm. I squint at Sadie, but she just shrugs, still grinning.