Page 95 of Three Pucking Ex's Brothers

“You’re right,” I tell her, because there’s no point in hiding the truth. I don’t think she’d believe me if I lied, anyway. “I want Nora. I won’t lie about that. But Nora’s not just some hookup to me. She’s more than that. But I’m not going to push her into something she doesn’t want, believe me. That’s why I just want to talk. Tell her where I stand. Let her tell me whatshewants.”

Abby twists her lips. “And if she says she doesn’t want you?”

I sigh, my shoulders slumping. It’s a possibility. I know that. What happened between us hardly constitutes a relationship.

But still, there’s a sliver of hope inside me that I’m right. That my gut is right and thereissomething more there, between us.

But if she doesn’t want me…

“If she doesn’t want to pursue me or this thing between us—” I run a hand through my hair nervously. “I’ll leave her the fuck alone, and I’ll never bring it up again.”

Abby nods. “Good.” She looks at her phone, then to the door. “Have a seat. She’ll be here soon.”

I do as she asks and she sets to cleaning up her station, and sure enough, it feels like no time has passed when Nora arrives.

“Rush…” she says, the surprise in her voice evident. I lean my elbows over my knees, leaning over to look up at her.

“Nora.”

Abby smiles. “He just said he needs a trim, so I’m sure it shouldn’t take youthatlong. You can lock up when you’re done.”

Nora and Abby exchange a look I can only classify as concerning, but neither says anything. Instead, Nora nods, and Abby grabs her keys and heads for the door, leaving us to our own devices. It’s just me and Nora. Here. Alone in this salon.

“Come on, then,” she says as she nods to her chair. “Let’s get you suited up.”

I get into the chair with ease, my thoughts wandering to Abby’s words. She said my brother was here earlier. With Nora. And that they kissed.

I shove the thought out of my mind as she capes me, her hands on my shoulders bringing me back to the here and now.

“Thanks for taking me on such short notice,” I say as I relax and she slips her fingers through my hair.

“No problem. I mean, I didn’t know it was you, but?—”

I tense at her words. “Would you have said no? If you knew it was me?” I ask honestly.

Her eyebrows furrow. “No! Of course not, I just?—”

She shakes her head and asks, “How much do you want me to cut?”

“Just a trim,” I say. “You be the judge. You’re the professional.”

“Right,” she says, her cheeks turning pink. “Totally professional.”

She starts sectioning my hair and gets her scissors.

My heart is in my throat. I’ve never been so nervous to talk to a woman in all my life, but maybe it’s because I have a lot to say to Nora.

Maybe it’s because Iwantmore.

“I…we never got a chance to talk about what happened the other night,” I say carefully. I feel her tense for a moment, then her scissors snip my hair. Some falls to the ground.

“The other night?” she asks, carefully.

“When we kissed.” I say the words solidly so she knows I’m serious.

“Right,” she says. “Then last night…”

She tenses as I look at her reflection in the mirror. She’s just dressed in black leggings and a white sweater—a cozy, average getup, and her fiery red hair is pulled back in a wavy ponytail. The leggings show off her figure perfectly, and she looks absolutely stunning. Just like this.