Page 52 of Don't Quit (The Reluctant Heart 5)

I thought she was talking about Richard, but up jumped Snowball from by Lizzy’s feet and started licking Lizzy’s face.

“Snowball! You found him,” I smiled. “What a relief!”

“Nope. Actually Richard found her and I found Richard. He was just about to pull up in front of my apartment.”

Oh, no. I hadn’t had a chance to tell him yet that I don’t live there. Richard didn’t miss the slip, either.

“Your apartment?” he said to Lizzy.

Her jaw dropped and she looked at him and then at me. “I’m sorry, Joyelle. I was so thrilled about Snowball that I…oh…I’m just…sorry.”

Lizzy had enough of an emotional night. I couldn’t let her feel guilty when she had helped me so much. “It’s okay.”

Lizzy got out of the car, put Snowball on a leash, and said, “I think I’m going to walk this naughty little girl home. You two look like you need some alone time.”

Sure do now.

I stood on the sidewalk and watched Lizzy and Snowball walk back home. Richard asked, “Are you going to get in?” I was still debating that, but I opened the door and sat down. “Might as well buckle up, too.”

“I thought maybe we could just talk here,” I suggested.

He shook his head. “The beach is just a few minutes away from here. Might as well go and watch the sunset while you explain just whose apartment that is.”

I nodded and didn’t say a word. Nothing was going to change the fact that I had lied. I wasn’t proud of it, and it really went against who I am as a person. All because I didn’t think you’d like me the way I am. I felt stupid, and once I’d told him everything, he’d probably agree.

He pulled up to Oakland Beach and said, “I have a blanket. Why don’t we go sit on the beach?”

“Sure,” I said, not feeling very chipper.

As we walked down the beach, he reached for my hand and said, “It’s a beautiful night.”

Hope you still think so later.

“Yes.”

He laid the blanket out and sat down, patting the empty spot beside him.

I didn’t sit right away. “Why are you being so nice when you know you’re not going to like what I say?”

He cocked a brow and asked, “How do you know I won’t like it?”

That’s a good point.I was making an assumption, just like I did about him not liking me because of where I really live. Why did I keep doing this? It didn’t represent who I really was.

This is ridiculous.

I sat on the blanket beside him and said, “I lied to you.”

“Lied might be a strong word. So why don’t you tell me what you need to, and I’ll determine what word fits. But don’t worry, I have no problem calling someone a liar if it fits,” he said.

“Do you want the long or short version?”

“I’ve got all night, so you decide.”

My heart pounded and I opted for the short, not-so-sweet one. “The apartment belongs to Lizzy. I live at the address I texted you earlier. I had planned to tell you tonight, but things went astray.” Thank you, Snowball, for interrupting another important night.

“Okay.”

I stared at him. “That’s it?”