Chapter 28

She slept happily and woke as the first rays of the summer sun began sneaking through the blinds. She could hear the yawning noises of the town, the trucks snorting up the avenue, and a few sleepy doormen whistling for cabs. She could feel the beginning of the humid, oppressive heat bearing down on the three thousand people who inhabited the town called North Valley.

It took only a second to recall the ecstasy of the day before. His voice was cool. With all her heart, she wished the conversation lengthened. She wished she hadn’t left earlier. Peculiarly, at that moment, she thought of Nick. Nick, who also loved her. Who would fight Alex for her? Who very likely still wanted her and maybe had a dream of getting her.

Mary lay on her back, staring at the ceiling. There was terrible finality about it all. She felt numb, vacant, scornful of her weakness, and unable to change. She should’ve let Nick know that she’d never loved him. She never thought of them being together fore