Morning Glory - A Novelette Read Online Free PDF Page A

question it. The truth hurts, and when he greets her with a kiss, I start to remember New Year’s and the pain of that night.
    He mouths that he’s sorry as she pulls him away. “ My Alejandro,” she repeats over and over, loud enough to stab me with her words as she takes possession once and for all.
    I want to break down, and I’m on the verge of tears as my body begins to shake. My once broken heart doesn’t feel shattered. Instead, I’m hurt and embarrassed that I fell for his lies .
    “Hayley, come here.” I look up and my heart sparks to life, giving me strength in the form of Nick’s voice. He wraps me in the security blanket of his arms, and I hear him call Alejandro an asshole.
    That, I expect. Nick has never liked him and hates him even more now that he hurt me. But what I don’t expect is Alejandro to confront him. “ Follas con ella ahora ? ”
    I knew I should have taken Spanish instead of French, but French seemed much more glamorous to me at the time.
    But Nick knows Spanish, so he replies, “ No te acerques a ella o te patearé el culo . ”
    I have no idea what they are saying to each other, but I hear the venom in the words.
    Nick spins around to face me and puts his body as a direct barrier between me and Alejandro.  “Don’t think about him, Hay. He’s not worth it.”
    I peek around him and see Alejandro walking away with his arm around the other woman. I don’t know what hurts more right now—that he dumped me for a model or that he just left me for another woman, again.
    I can’t stop the sob that erupts from me as I lean against Nick’s chest and my tears wet his shirt.  H e cares more about me than his clothes , so h e tightens his arms around me and whispers, “Let’s go home.”
    I nod, unable to speak. The sobs will just turn ugly if I try.
    “I’m going to take her home,” he says.
    I hear Jennifer behind me say, “Okay, yeah, right. Um, call me?”
    He nods. “Sure.” There’s no conviction in his response, but thinking about his love life is more than I can deal with right now. I know I’m being selfish, but hell, it hasn’t even been a week. Why did I have to run into Alejandro tonight?
    With one arm protectively around my shoulders, w e head for the door . Chance catches up with us and asks, “Is she all right? What happened?”
    Nick squeezes me tighter into his side , his body tens ing just as mine had a few minutes earlier. “She ran into her ex. I’m taking her home.”
    “I can do that. I know you were hanging out with my sister—”
    “No, I’ll take her. I’ve already talked to Jennifer. She knows.”
    “Hayley?” he says, questioning if this is what I want.
    Before he says anything else, I step forward and put my hand on his chest to keep him at a distance. “I’m sorry. I need to go. Thank you for tonight.” I retreat back to the safety of Nick, and rest my hand on his stomach. I can feel the difference, the special connection I have with him. As I give Chance a faint smile, I realize I’d be settling if I dated him.
    Nick makes my heart skip a beat when we’re close, and I’m always anxious when we’re apart. I think about how he has one smile for everyone else, and a special one just for me. I think about all of these things on the cab ride home as I sit pressed against the door, hoping it give s me perspective on the situation .
    I had stopped Chance from coming closer while holding Nick to me. I wasn’t in love with Alejandro. I was shocked that he broke up with me. That was a low blow my ego couldn’t take, but he was doing my heart a favor.
    Maybe it’s the alcohol, but when I look over at Nick, I start to question the feelings he stirs within me, feelings that are stronger than a friendship and much deeper than buddies. He makes me feel protected and comforted and other sensations I always stopped my mind and body from delving into.
    He pays the driver, and both of us get out like we always do, and walk into my apartment like