The Neighbor Favor(67)

“Oh . . .” Oliver’s expression turned hopeful. “Would you like to go then? It doesn’t have to be a date. Unless you want it to be. Sorry, that was very forward. I’m usually much smoother, I promise.”

Lily looked at him. She actually appreciated his forwardness. It was a welcome change after the guessing games she’d played with Nick.

Nick . . . she’d have to let go of him. And their agreement to help her find a date to Violet’s wedding. In retrospect it was kind of silly that she thought Nick would actually be able to help her. If she was being honest, she’d probably just used it as an excuse to spend more time with him.

But she had to draw a line now. She could handle getting a date to Violet’s wedding on her own. And she’d start with the charming guy right in front of her.

“I’d love to go,” she told Oliver.

“Brilliant.” Oliver held up his tumbler, and Lily held up her glass. “Cheers.”

Lily smiled, hopeful and determined. “Cheers.”





15


Nick stared at his phone, willing a text from Lily to appear. it had been almost a week since their kiss at her parents’ house, and it was all he could think about. He should just call her. Or knock on her door and talk to her. But he didn’t know what he’d even say. He’d revealed the rawest parts of himself to her and she hadn’t turned away. If anything, she’d only brought him closer and that was terrifying. Because one day she’d wake up and see that she’d made a mistake by choosing him. He was trying to save her from that grief, which meant he most definitely should not call her.

It didn’t matter anyway. After the way he’d left her room, she’d most likely already realized what a fuck-up he was and wanted nothing to do with him.

“Nick, sweetheart, do you not like my carne asada? I have to say you’d be the first. My sons love this meal.”

Nick looked up from his phone at Yolanda. Fridays were usually reserved for Henry and Yolanda’s date nights, but they’d invited him over. Nick, still struggling to write his book and also looking for a distraction from his constant thoughts about Lily, had been more than happy to accept.

“It’s delicious,” Nick said. “Best I’ve ever had.”

“Then why are you frowning at it?” Yolanda asked.

“Oh, I—um,” he stammered. “I just have a lot on my mind.”

“He’s having issues with his lady friend,” Henry supplied.

Nick turned to him sharply. “What?”

“His lady friend?” Intrigued, Yolanda leaned forward. Her eyes twinkled. “Do tell, Nick.”

“I don’t know what he’s talking about.”

“He does,” Henry said. “She’s the young lady we met in the hallway a few weeks ago. I’ve seen them together before. They smile and stare into each other’s eyes while walking down the street. They’re an item. Or at least they were, and now they’re not, and that’s why Nick is so forlorn. He was behaving this way in the gym earlier. It’s why I suggested that we invite him to dinner.”

At the gym, all Henry had done was jog on the treadmill and listen to his music, while Nick lifted weights. They usually didn’t talk much when they worked out, so Nick had no idea when Henry had become so perceptive.

“That’s not true,” Nick said. “She’s my friend, not my lady friend. Henry, can you please stop making these blanket statements every time you see me with a woman?”

“But I’m correct in this instance,” Henry said. “I haven’t seen you with the young lady all week and you won’t stop checking your phone.” He turned to Yolanda. “They must be in a spat of some kind.”

“Oh, Nick, you poor thing,” Yolanda said. “What’s the spat about?”

I kissed her and ruined everything between us and now I know she doesn’t want anything to do with me.

“It’s nothing. We just . . .” He didn’t know how to finish his sentence or why he was even responding. He didn’t want to get into what was going on with him and Lily. It was too complicated.

Henry and Yolanda stared at him expectantly. Nick prayed for a subject change. Then his phone vibrated in his hand, and Lily’s name flashed across his screen. Nick blinked, wondering if he was seeing things. But no. Lily was calling him. His heart pounded as he quickly answered. He barely had a chance to say hello before Lily started talking.

“Hey, I’m so sorry to be calling you if you’re busy,” she said. “Are you home?”

“Yeah.” Nick immediately stood and walked across the room for his shoes. He didn’t like the slightly frantic edge to her voice. “What’s going on?”

“It’s Tomcat. Twenty minutes ago, I fed him and got showered and dressed and he was fine. But when I came back into the kitchen to look for my earring, he was lying on the floor moaning. I’ve never seen him like this before. And I don’t know if I should take him to the hospital or if he’ll be fine. The internet says so many different things. I don’t know what I’m doing, and Violet isn’t here, and I didn’t know who else to call.”

He slid on his sneakers. “I’m coming over now. Don’t worry, okay?”