Page 80 of Blame it on the Kiss
Someone pounded on her door. She hurried to answer it.
“Your doorbell squirted me in the face,” Sophie said, wiping at her eye.
“I’m going to kill my brother. Sorry about that.” Honor pulled the gag doorbell off the door. “Coop gets a little carried away on April Fool’s day.”
Sophie grinned as she eyed the real doorbell off to the side. “I don’t think I’ve ever been pranked before. That was a good one.”
“We’ll plot our revenge on our way. Let’s go.” Honor shut the door behind her. “You look good today.”
“Thanks. I told myself it was mind over matter. No way was I letting this little one interfere with our plans.” Sophie absently rubbed her stomach before putting an arm around Honor. “Happy birthday!”
They arrived at Pretty in Pink a few minutes later. Being inside the nail salon was like walking into a decked out cotton candy cloud with crystal chandeliers. “The birthday girl is here!” Maggie announced.
“Hi, Mags.” Honor hugged her friend and shop owner.
“Hi, Maggie,” Sophie said.
Maggie gave Sophie a wide smile and wrapped her in a gentle hug. “How is our mommy-to-be?”
“She’s great.”
“Good. Let’s get you guys started.” Maggie put them next to each other in spa chairs for the full mani/pedi treatment.
Conversation flowed and for the first time in days, Honor’s thoughts quieted. When Maggie brought out a birthday cake with candles and had everyone in the salon sing, Honor put on a happy face for real.
The shop quieted down and two twenty-something girls walked in. They sat across the room from her and Sophie. Honor didn’t recognize them and they kept talking to each other with barely a glance to anyone else.
“So, yeah, she really messed him up,” the shorter of the girls said.
“Sounds like. What kind of person does that to a guy?” the taller girl said.
Short Girl shrugged. “A selfish one, I guess? He knows I love him, but I’m afraid after what he’s been through, he’ll never fully commit. I’m wondering if I should break things off.
Tall girl put a hand on her friend’s arm. “I’m sorry, Hannah, but maybe give Lance a little more time?”
Honor’s breath caught. Her foot slipped off its perch and made a splash in the tub of warm water. Lance had left for college in San Diego and stayed there after graduation. Honor had heard he was seeing someone. Someone named Hannah.
“Maybe,” Hannah said. Her gaze connected with Honor’s and for a split second Honor wondered if Hannah knew she was the selfish girl who had messed Lance up.
The room shrank and Honor had to concentrate to keep her disposition even.
“Honor?”
She turned her head to Maggie. “Looks yummy. Thanks.” She took the piece of offered cake and dug in. With each bite her head swam.
She’d thought she’d turned the corner on her past, but here it was, dragging her back down.
Chapter Fourteen
The next morning Honor put on her running shoes and hit the beach. The early morning surf rolled gently onto shore, clouds hid the sun. She started off slowly, leaving deep footprints in the hard, wet sand. A few surfers floated in the mellow tide. A guy waved a metal detector back and forth. In the distance she saw another jogger heading toward her.
For a moment she almost dropped to her knees, fatigue and lack of sleep telling her body to stop moving. But that wouldn’t do. Stopping meant her heart would have nothing else to do but ache.
She’d woken at the crack of dawn with a killer hangover and one thought: Itwastime to concentrate on herself and ditch the pain eating her up inside. And the best start? A run. A run until her lungs burned and her heart pounded and the suffocating feeling of loss and loneliness was sweated out of her. She picked up her pace.
If she worked her muscles until they protested, revved her pulse as high as it could go, and let the wind rushing past her take her stupid thoughts with it, then she could start fresh. Rediscover the Honor Payton had hoped she would.
And, she would.
