One Sweet Day I Found You: A Sweet Romance Book 1

by Jillian Walsh

  “Wait.” Courtney almost threw the coffee and pastries into Austin’s hands, sailing down the walk after Nick. “Wait, Nick—it’s not what you think! He’s just an old boyfriend. I ran into him last night. I went out with Kira for a couple of drinks. Please.”

  Nick didn’t stop his march toward the car. “Okay, fine.” His voice was sharp. “So why is he here, then?” He reached the Jeep.

  Courtney didn’t have a short or easy answer for that. Yes, the situation didn’t look good, but he was jumping to the worst possible conclusion. She had never imagined she could make him so angry. “It’s not—”

  He swung open the door of the Jeep and jumped inside then slammed it shut.

  Overwhelmed, Courtney moved out of the way.

  Nick backed out of the parking spot, refusing to make eye contact with her. Courtney felt the blood drain from her face as the black Jeep sped down the driveway, turned onto the road, and disappeared from sight.

  Her head was still spinning when Austin approached. She clapped a hand over her mouth. Her eyes felt moist. No words would come.

  Austin cast a shadowed look at Courtney and she stared back at him.

  What had she done? She looked away.

  “I’m sorry, Court. I didn’t know there was someone.” He searched her eyes.

  A sob began to push its way forward inside her throat, forcing itself out, until finally, she dropped her hand and let out a miserable groan. “No. No.”

  She turned on her heels and hurried into the house, before Austin could see her fall apart completely.

  A moment later, Jon’s car turned off of the main road and into the driveway.

  Nick was livid. He raced to the marina and pulled into a spot in the main lot, keeping the engine running. It was relatively empty this early. There was no one around.

  He didn’t want to see the guys at the shop yet. He didn’t have to be at work for an hour. But what was he going to do now? Sit here and stew? He couldn’t even think straight. He couldn’t think of anywhere else to go, other than home, but Tom was still there. He didn’t want to see anyone right now, not even him.

  He closed his eyes and rested his head in his hands, leaning against the steering wheel.

  He never imagined Courtney would do something like this. She wasn’t like that.

  Was she?

  Seriously, what was that?

  He sat up.

  He’d only meant to surprise her today. Make up for yesterday.

  He scoffed. Looks like he’d surprised her, all right, in more ways than one.

  He thought she’d have been eager to see him. But apparently, she couldn’t wait one day for him when things didn’t go her way?

  And who was that guy? What was he doing there? Nick and Courtney had never talked about being exclusive, but he didn’t think they’d had to. Things had been so perfect between them.

  It had been just about a month since they’d met. Was she already tired of him? Or had she been dating other guys all this time? Had he imagined their connection? He thought for sure it had been real.

  What had he missed? He wracked his brain. Were there signs? Maybe he’d been the only one who’d thought things were perfect.

  Nick’s parking spot faced the water. He gazed out the Jeep’s front window at the lake before him. It was quiet, just a few boats out on the water, the sky a dull gray. He sighed heavily and rolled down the driver’s side window then turned off the engine.

  She’d tried to tell him something before he left. Denials. Lies, probably. Something about going out with Kira last night.

  So one night out at a bar and this is what she does? Maybe it was better he found out now, if this was how Courtney rolled.

  He took a gulp of the coffee sitting in the cup holder. It was still warm. He felt exhausted all of a sudden. He sipped it again, then set it down and buried his face in his hands.

  He had to go back to work all day, deal with the public, and act like his heart hadn’t just been ripped out of his chest.

  Great. How in the world was he going to do that? This felt worse than last year, with Regina, and they’d dated for over a year.

  He took in a heavy breath and let it out. He sat back and leaned his head against the headrest.

  He would not let her make a fool of him again. This was not just something he could forgive and forget.

  Twenty

  Courtney sat up on the couch and looked around. It was still light out. Her head ached like she’d been hit by a truck. She reached for her glass of water on the coffee table and checked the time on her phone. Just about four o’clock.

  Was I out that long? The marketing piece about the Fourth of July was expected to be live in two hours, but it still wasn’t ready. She sat up.

  Shaking off the sleep, she rose and made her way down the hall. A glance in the bathroom mirror proved a bad idea. Her eyes were red and swollen, much worse than when she’d gotten up this morning. She threw some cold water on her face and ran a brush through her hair.

  Austin had left this morning after a slew of apologies, hugs, and a short pep talk. “He’ll come around, Court. I hope this guy won’t be as stupid as I was. Can I talk to him for you?”

  Courtney shook her head.

  “Okay. But, I mean—nothing really happened. Tell him that,” he’d said. “Any good dude wouldn’t let his girl go over something like this. He just needs the whole story. And, hey, little tip—guys do better when you give them time to cool off. I wouldn’t push it for a few days.”

  Courtney was still in shock. “Okay. Thanks.”

  The guilt.

  The regret.

  It was all overwhelming.

  She didn’t think it was going to be as easy as Austin made it sound, even though she agreed with him.

  Nick wasn’t going to take this so lightly.

  Still, it was good to have worked things out with Austin. She’d thanked him and they’d hugged out a good-bye and wished each other well.

  The irony was almost too thick to bear, though. She was finally—really, finally—over her ex-boyfriend, which meant she was ready, truly, to love someone new. But in getting to that point, she had sacrificed that new person. She had lost him.

  She had lost Nick.

  She stared straight across the cottage living room at nothing.

  Tears threatened to well up. Again. She wiped away a stray one and took a deep breath.

  After Austin left, and after a long crying jag this morning, she’d pulled herself together and planted herself in a chair, determined not to let the situation distract her from her work.

  She’d put aside her tangled mess of emotions and knocked out a lot more of the article. But about two hours ago, her eyelids had fluttered, the couch had beckoned, and she’d decided to take a short break. That must’ve been when she’d fallen asleep.

  Just then, her phone trilled and she checked the screen. Mom—oh, right. Courtney was supposed to call her today. But her mother was the last person who needed to hear her sounding like this. Plus, she was running out of time to finish the article. She sniffled and declined the call then punched out a text.

  I’m on deadline. Less than two hours left. I’ll call you tomorrow? So sorry. Heart emoji.

  Her mother texted back.

  No problem, sweetie, Good luck. TTYS.

  Courtney sent a smiley and sat back down in front of her laptop. She wasn’t going to tell her mother about what happened with Nick, at least not while it was still a fresh wound. She didn’t need judgment or scolding. She had only recently told her mother about him at all.

  She went to the kitchen and pulled out a single-serving chocolate protein shake from the refrigerator and took a sip. She couldn’t imagine eating actual food right now. Her stomach always tied itself in knots when she was really upset. But she was beginning to feel weak from the lack of anything all day besides a few cups of coffee.

  She finished the shake and felt revived, at least physically, then threw back a dose
of ibuprofen and rubbed her aching temples.

  An hour and forty-five minutes later, she hit publish on the screen and her Heritage Bay Fourth of July celebration piece went to Beecham’s office for final proofing. With a sigh of relief, she closed the program and went to check her email. Beecham’s assistant, Josh would make it live once approved.

  Courtney scrolled down, deleting a slew of junk mail and spam. Then she saw it. Nick had emailed. Her pulse quickened. He’d reached out already. Was he ready to talk?

  She opened it, her heart pounding.

  Then she saw the time stamp. It was from 12:46am. With dread, she began to read:

  Hey Court,

  I’m so sorry about today. Got called out on a rescue. I texted you this afternoon but I just realized it never went through. Didn’t want to wake you tonight so I’m sending this instead of a text. I’ll make it up to you. Promise.

  xoxo,

  Nick

  Courtney’s heart sank into her stomach. She sat back, nauseated all over again. New tears started to gush down her cheeks.

  He hadn’t blown her off. He’d tried to reach her yesterday. It was all a big, terrible mix-up. And now, everything was ruined.

  Worse, still, she could’ve prevented the whole thing this morning if she’d have just read her email before she started working. She cupped a hand over her mouth in dismay, for, at least, the fifth time today.

  Courtney glanced around the cottage and ran her hands across her face, wiping the tears away. She pushed some hair behind her ears.

  After the nap, she had too much energy to sit still, especially with all the emotions racing through her system. Besides, she was only going to fall apart again if she sat here all night. But what was she going to do now?

  She needed to think, and to burn off some negative energy. A run might help. A few minutes later, she was lacing up her shoes, a baseball cap pulled down low over her forehead. She still felt like a wreck.

  House key in the pocket of her leggings, she headed toward the lake.

  A few steps across the lawn, she slowed down. Ash the cat, perky and full of cheer, trotted across the lawn to greet her. “Well, look who’s out and about?” She stopped to pet him and he pressed himself against her legs. Courtney bent at the knees and scratched his head. “Nice to see you, too, Ash. How are things with Mrs. Brady?”

  Ash purred and returned the affection.

  “That’s a good boy.” She ran a hand across the cat’s velvety soft back.

  She should stop in and say hello at the house soon. She hadn’t talked to Mrs. Brady in about a week.

  But not tonight. She wasn’t up for talking to anyone. “Are you taking good care of her, kitty kitty?”

  Courtney’s eyes began to well up again. Ash was just so sweet. And this was bad. Sweet, impartial animals were now bringing her to tears.

  “I’m sorry, Ash, I have to go. You stay here.” Courtney rose and took to the trail, careful to make sure the cat wasn’t following her. By the time she reached the edge of the water, her run had become a sprint.

  Courtney tried to steady her thoughts. It felt good to run off some of the pain. But now, she slowed to a pace that she could maintain for a longer distance.

  First of all, how was she going to explain this to Nick? He was not far off to have assumed the worst—what happened looked really bad on the surface. Really bad. She needed to tell him exactly what had happened, as well as what did not.

  She glanced at the lake. This summer had already turned into something so amazing. This beautiful place, these great people she’d been getting to know, and Nick.

  Nick! How could she have thrown everything away like this? Had she really lost him?

  She was such an idiot.

  Courtney reached the edge of the marina. She slowed to watch a small sailboat in the distance that was just entering the harbor. It looked so perfect, so idyllic, her passengers probably relaxed and happy and without a care in the world. Courtney’s throat tightened up again and her eyes felt moist.

  She pushed back up to speed and circled around to head toward home. Nick might be leaving work soon. She did not want to chance a run-in with him tonight. She was nowhere near ready to see him. Especially now that she felt even worse.

  How could she have been so foolish?

  The sun dipped its toes into the horizon as Courtney turned back onto the sandier cottage trail through Mrs. Brady’s marsh. Courtney slowed to a walk then stopped to cool down and stretch.

  Just give him some time.

  But just how much time? And would he even listen to her? She doubted she could wait very long. She at least had to let him know she was thinking about him. She gazed at the water. If only she could take it all back.

  The day had been an exercise in futility. Nick couldn’t get Courtney off his mind, no matter what he tried.

  He steered his road bike off the street and peddled back into the lot of his apartment complex, noticing the usual evening hum of the crickets in the tall pines surrounding the buildings.

  He’d already been tired after work, but his thoughts had still been running a mile a minute. He’d have gone stir crazy and been up all night if he hadn’t gone out and blown off some steam. Fifteen miles on his bicycle seemed to have done the trick. He felt a little better. But still, he couldn’t believe what he’d walked in on this morning.

  What if he hadn’t decided to stop by her house this morning? Would he have ever found out?

  He still couldn’t believe Courtney had done that. Things had seemed so great. How stupid he was. How blind. He swore under his breath.

  With little daylight left, he rounded a corner in the large and inviting apartment complex. At least he was sufficiently exhausted now.

  He pulled over, unclipped from the pedals, and stepped off, then carried the bike up the short flight of stairs to his door. A message buzzed on his phone in the pocket of his bicycle shorts.

  Back inside the apartment, with the bike in its corner, he took off his helmet and cycling shoes then pulled out the phone and read the message. It was from her.

  I’m so, so sorry. I miss you. Please, let me explain.

  He stared at the message for a few seconds. He’d done little all day but try to imagine what had brought this about. What had he done to send her into the arms of another guy? Or what had he not done? Why was she so restless that she’d go hooking up with someone else? Had he completely imagined a mutual interest between Courtney and himself?

  Nick shook his head. Seriously, one little apology wasn’t going to cut it. He wasn’t going to run back into her arms, just so she could tear out his heart and stomp all over it again. No. Way.

  He ignored the message, set the phone upside down, and went to the refrigerator. He produced a cold beer just as Tom came into the kitchen.

  “Pass me one, would you?” Tom sat on a barstool at the kitchen counter. He took the cold, brown bottle from Nick and twisted the lid until it popped open and a cool mist escaped. “Thanks.” He threw back the bottle and took a long drink.

  Nick grabbed one of his own and relocated to the living room, where he plopped down on the couch and put up his feet.

  Tom had a keen sense for reading people and a knack for getting them to talk. His tactics were simple and they usually worked on Nick.

  Tom spun away from the kitchen on the barstool to face the apartment’s living room. “So, what’s going on, dude? You’re acting weird again. Rough day?” He took another sip.

  Nick scoffed. “How am I acting weird? I hardly said a word.”

  “Doesn’t matter.” Tom looked satisfied.

  Nick grinned in spite of himself. “Okay, so yeah. Rough day.”

  “Oh, yeah? What’s up?”

  “Dude.” Nick gave him the leave-me-alone look. He picked up the remote and turned on the TV.

  Tom wasn’t discouraged. He leaned back, keeping an eye on Nick. “Work?

  “Nah.”

  “Money?”

  “Nah.�
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  “Your dad?”

  “Nope.” Nick made a face.

  “Women?”

  Nick swallowed a swig of beer. He held up a finger and answered very matter-of-factly without looking at Tom. “That’s the one.”

  “Ah,” Tom said, keeping his tone playful. “Trouble in paradise?”

  Nick sneered, picked up a football that was sitting on the coffee table, and slung it across the room. Tom caught it. “Shut up, dude,” Nick said, half a grin on his face. He grabbed his beer and left the room, heading for his bedroom. “It’s nothing.”

  Tom called out as Nick strolled down the hallway. “What are we talkin’ here, a little spat, or, she drop the axe?”

  “I thought I told you to shut up.” Nick’s tone was flat but not without amusement. He went into his room and closed the door.

  That ought to clarify it. Nick knew Tom meant well, but Nick’s love life was not up for discussion right now.

  Tom met Courtney only once, when Nick brought her to the apartment to show her his place.

  Tom liked Courtney and didn’t want to see Nick screw it up. He said she was perfect for him. Would he still think that now, if he knew what happened?

  Nick showered, pushing all of the miserable thoughts to the back of his mind, then changed into a pair of sweats and a T-shirt, returning to the living room twenty minutes later.

  Tom was splayed out on the couch watching a game on TV in the dark, the remote control next to him. He looked up as Nick came into the room. Tom shot him another look. “You talkin’ yet?”

  Nick shook his head politely and took a seat in an armchair. He propped his feet on a footrest then stared at the television for a few minutes, but it couldn’t keep his attention.

  His mind wandered and he pulled out his phone. He stared at Courtney’s message. It had taken a lot for him to get to this point with her. Did she even realize that? He’d opened up to her. He’d let down his guard, and now, this is what she gave him in return.

  He wasn’t going to let her destroy him.