Page 87 of More For Me

“Be brave, Lele,” Mom whispers, kissing my forehead. “It’s worth it.”

“Hello?” his familiar deep voice calls from the foyer and I follow my mom back out to the living room.

“Bodhi,” she says warmly. “It’s so good to see you, sweetheart.” She looks him over. “Look at you, Mr. Dapper.”

The tips of his ears go red but he grins at her. Bodhi loves my mom. “Hey, Paige. I didn’t know you were coming over.” His gaze travels to where I stand behind her, his forehead immediately furrowing with concern.

Jesus, I was so concerned about the cry-fest carnage in the living room I wasn’t even thinking how much of a messImust look like. Crying and contact lenses don’t work, so I switched to my glasses hours ago. My hair is a mess on top of my head, I’m wearing the oldest, most faded Ransom shirt I own—because it’s soft as a baby’s ass and I needed a little soft tonight. There’s also the fact that my face gets really puffy and red when I cry.

So, that’s awesome. Exactly how I want to look after he just left a beautiful woman. I bet Jordan didn’t have swollen eyes and a rat’s nest on her head.

“We decided we needed a girl’s night,” my mom says easily, like it’s not completely obvious this was more than that. “There’s plenty of junk food left. Help yourself.”

She turns back to me, blocking me from his sight. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow?”

I nod and she pulls me into the tightest hug. I wish I could stay there in my mom’s strong arms forever. Nothing bad ever happens here.

“You sure you don’t want to come with me?” she whispers into my ear.

“Nah. I think I should probably stop hiding.”

She pulls back and gazes at me, her expression proud. “You got this,” she mouths, then leans forward and kisses my head one last time. “Love you, baby girl.”

“I love you too, Mom.” I lower my voice even more. “Thanks for everything.”

“Anytime.”

She releases me and heads to the door, where Bodhi is still standing. His eyes keep flicking from the mess on the coffee table to me and back. When my mom gets to him, she pats his cheek. “Good to see you, sweetie.”

“Uh, you too, Paige,” he says, sounding uncertain. His eyes are locked on me now. “Have a good night.” Then she’s gone and it’s just me and Bodhi, alone.

This won’t be at all awkward.

“Are you okay?” he asks the second the front door is closed. “You look like you’ve been crying.”

“I’m fine,” I say automatically, desperate for him to stop looking at me in that concerned, searching way. But then I remember what my mom said right before he walked in.Be brave, Lele. It’s worth it.

“Actually, I’m not fine. I’ve been having a really hard time.”

He frowns. “Why didn’t you tell me that before I left? I could have stayed.”

I shrug. “Didn’t feel right to ruin your night when I’ve already been such a horrid bitch to you this week.”

Anger flashes on his face. “Please don’t ever say that word about yourself,” he says in a low, fierce voice and God, how was there ever any doubt that I’m crazy about this man?

“Do you want tea?” I ask, only because I’m pretty sure I’m going to throw myself at him and beg him to choose me over Jordan if I don’t have something to do with my hands. “I think we have some of that chai from Nisha.”

“I’m good. Do you want me to make you some?”

This is awful. Being all stiff and awkward with each other. I shake my head. “I’m fine.”

Bodhi gestures at the couch. “Then can we please sit down so you can tell me what’s going on? Is everyone okay? Did something happen to one of your sisters? Your cousins?”

“Everyone is fine.” I close my eyes for a moment, hoping to muster up some courage, and go to sit on the couch. He joins me, leaving a ton of space between us, so I pull the fuzzy throw blanket back around myself, needing a little comfort.

“How was your date?”

He blinks at me, like he wasn’t expecting the question. “It was fine.” The fact that he didn’t deny it was a date sends a jolt of hurt through me.