When Lana and Julian arrived on the 77th floor, they immediately noticed that one of the guest room doors was wide open.
They rushed over, and–just as they suspected–they found Niamh inside.
She had already straightened her clothes and even brushed her hair again, but it was obvious to both Lana and Julian that something had gone down between her and Jonathan. The scattered rose petals littering the floor told its own story.
They had been worried about Niamh, which was why they’d called her in the first place. Niamh had said she was on the 77th floor but hadn’t caught the room
number.
Lana had put the call on speaker. Even though Niamh tried to sound normal, both Lana and Julian could tell something was off by the way her voice wavered.
“Nia, where’s that lowlife Jonathan?” Lana asked, cracking her knuckles.
Niamh brushed it off with a casual, “He left… went to find Marina.”
“Ugh, unbelievable!”
All the way down in the elevator, Lana kept cursing Jonathan under her breath. Niamh worried Julian might get annoyed, but he just grinned and said he loved hearing people talk trash about Jonathan–it was music to his ears.
That night, Lana didn’t go home. Instead, she stayed over a amh’s apartment to keep her company. Niamh insisted she’d be fine and didn’t want her friend to stress over her like she was a helpless kid.
She admitted Jonathan had really shaken her up tonight, but she was an adult and needed to handle her own problems. Besides, Lana had work the next morning, and her place was a long way from here.
But Lana wouldn’t take no for an answer, and Julian backed her up, saying Niamh should just let Lana stay. In the end, Niamh gave in.
Niamh’s old apartment on/Trinity Lane wasn’t big–just a one–bedroom. There was only one bed.
“Sorry for the squeeze, Lana.”
“Are you kidding? Sharing a bed with you? I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Niamh couldn’t help but laugh.
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Both women had work the next day, but neither could sleep. They lay side by side, chatting in the dark, just like they used to back in their high school dorm, Back then, they’d talk for hours into the night, only to groan when the alarm clock blared in the morning.
“Nia,” Lana rolled over, curiosity in her voice, “what on earth do you even like about Jonathan?”
She started ticking things off on her fingers, half–mocking, half–serious. “I mean, sure, the guy’s gorgeous, tall, fit, rich, successful, runs a huge company, comes from a loaded family… but seriously, what else has he got going for him?”
Niamh didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh. She honestly couldn’t tell if Lana was roasting Jonathan or secretly complimenting him.
The room was quiet for a moment. Niamh thought about it, then said softly, “Jonathan… he was my first love.”
Lana frowned. “Didn’t you meet him in college? After that car accident, when you saved his life…”
“That’s what I remember,” Lana mused, “First loves are hard to let go of. But you were both adults by then. Don’t tell me that’s the only reason you’re so hung up on
him?”
Niamh shook her head, her voice tinged with regret and a trace of resentment. “Actually, I met Jonathan a long time ago. But he forgot about me.”
Lana let out a low whistle. “Wow, he’s been a jerk since he was a kid, huh?”
Even in the darkness, Lana could make out the wry smile on Niamh’s face.
“He wasn’t a jerk back then… actually, he was kind of amazing.”
Niamh’s mind wandered back to those days in the juvenile center, where she’d first seen Jonathan–proud, rebellious, but with a fierce sense of justice. Her wry smile softened, turning almost shy,
“Girl, you’ve got it bad. How old were you then?”
“Thirteen, maybe?”
“Yep, classic case of teenage love–brain,” Lana teased.
Niamh didn’t argue. She knew Lana was right–she’d always been a hopeless
romantic. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have spent three years as a stay–at–home wife, doing everything for Jonathan.
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Chapter 41
If she hadn’t stumbled across that spreadsheet by accident, if Marina hadn’t come
back into their lives, she probably would’ve kept going, lost in the dream that Jonathan loved her, blind to everything else.
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Chapter 42
