Page 13 of So Close to You
“How does she look at me, in your opinion?”
Maeve’s expression softens.
“Like someone who’s been terrified of taking the leap for years.”
Nerissa’s heart beats faster for a second. That’s the real problem. Because even after everything—the silence, the rejection, and the emotional wreckage—a part of her still clings to something as small as that sentence.
Maeve notices immediately.
“Don’t make that face.”
“What face?” Nerissa asks, even though she knows exactly what she means.
“The ‘maybe if I give her one more chance, things will be different’ face. Because you don’t want to give her another chance, do you?”
Nerissa immediately looks away.
Too late.
Maeve narrows her eyes.
“Wait… Did something happen?”
The silence lasts half a second too long.
“Nerissa.”
She picks up her coffee cup, trying to buy herself some time.
“Don’t start making up theories.”
Maeve’s eyes widen.
“Oh my God. Something happened. Did you sleep with her again?”
Several people at the next table turn around. Nerissa shoots her a murderous look.
“Can you keep your voice down, please?”
Maeve slowly leans back in her chair, completely stunned.
“I knew that look wasn’t just exhaustion.”
Nerissa feels her pulse pounding in her temples. Part of her hadn’t wanted to tell anyone yet, as if putting it into words would make it more real—and more dangerous.
“It was a chance encounter,” Nerissa confesses, gripping her coffee cup. “At the charity gala.”
Maeve sits motionless for a few seconds, processing the information.
“And then?”
The image of Seraphina in her office comes flooding back, and Nerissa slowly runs a hand over the back of her neck.
“Then it got worse… in her office.”
“Damn it, Nerissa…” Maeve sighs, studying her closely.
She closes her eyes for a moment, exhausted.
