Page 21 of Passing Notes

“Stop it,” I hissed. “He’ll see you.”

“That’s the point. The only way to feel better is to talk this out with him. Otherwise, you’re going to be a seething mess of anger and stress every time you see him, and that’s not healthy.” She took a big breath, and I knew she was getting ready to serve me up a dose of reality slash tough love. “Look, I was mostly teasing about all the bridal shower stuff. But I’m not joking about this. Make peace with him. It’s the only way to be okay with having him live next door.”

“Quit being smart,” I shot back. “I still want to be mad and irrational.”

“It’s weird when the shoe is on the other foot, isn’t it?” she mused. “I remember you giving me all kinds of smart advice when it came to me and Garrett. And look at me now.” She threw her hands out at her sides and smirked at me.

“Fine,” I grumbled.

“Let’s go, Molls,” Leo took her hand and pulled her up off the swing.

Panicked, I hopped up and attempted to block their escape. “Wait! I need buffers. Y’all can’t leave now.”

“You don’t need us,” Leo insisted. “You got this. But definitely call us after and tell us all about it. Better yet, come to the inn and we’ll have a BFF night. I’ll bake your favorite chocolate chip blondies.”

I smiled through my annoyance. “I love your chocolate chip blondies.”

They were right. Being an adult and facing my issues head-on was the best thing to do, I’d had enough therapy to know that. Plus, it’s the advice I would have given them if they needed it, damn it. Advice was more fun when you were the one giving it. Receiving it was bullshit.

Nick stepped out of his open garage with a hesitant smile on his face.

“Hey, Nick,” Molly waved him over. “You’re off early today.”

“It’s an early release day for the high school.”

“We’re about to go back to work. It was good seeing you.” They headed to Leo’s car and took off.

“We have to talk,” he informed me without preamble. “Can I come over?”

CHAPTER 7

CLARA

You’re the only one I want. I can’t imagine being with someone else. - Nick

“Sure, come on over. I guess we should clear the air. We are neighbors, after all. What about the kids? Will they be home soon?”

I met him at the edge of where our lawns met. For some dumb reason, having that dividing line between us made me feel safe, as if my emotions could be contained within the border of purple pansies and petunias I had planted the other day as long as we stayed on our separate sides.

“They’re going to their mother’s house after school. It’s her turn with them.”

“Ahh, I see. That must be tough. Sadie still struggles sharing the boys with her ex.”

“It’s not what I imagined when I pictured having kids, as you may recall.”

I did recall.

We used to talk all the time about what it would be like to have a family together and all the things we’d do differently than our parents. “I’m so sorry, Nick.”

“It is what it is. Anyway, it’s going to be a lot easier now that I live here. My ex lives around the corner. They’ve already started coming and going between our houses. I see them a lot more.”

“Good. Do y’all get along, or...?” I couldn’t believe we were standing here making innocuous small talk like this when we had once been able to share everything. It felt strange. It felt wrong. I didn’t like it one bit.

His hesitant smile turned to a frown when a brand-new Range Rover pulled up to the curb. “Shit,” he mumbled under his breath.

“That’s her, isn’t it?” I hissed.

A resigned nod was his only answer.