“This seems to be the way with you. One second I’m getting involved in your asinine shit, the next you’re sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.”

She laughed. “Then it ends with me running home with my tail between my legs.”

That made me chuckle. “Sounds about right.”

“I’ll take your advice on Eric into consideration,” she said as she suddenly headed back toward the house.

I forced my eyes to the ground when I caught them lingering on her ass as she walked away.

“Stay safe,” I called out.***It was past midnight, and she hadn’t come home yet. I knew I should’ve just gone to bed and minded my own damn business, but my butt seemed glued to the porch. I told myself I needed to make sure she got home safely, and then I’d call it a night.

But with each passing minute, I became more convinced she’d decided to spend the night with him. Could I really blame her? It wasn’t like I was giving her horny little ass what she’d asked me for. That meant she was going to get it from somewhere else, whether I liked it or not. I just wished it wasn’t with an undeserving asshole who’d already hurt her.

A flash of light appeared from down the gravel road leading to Heather’s house. I stood up to get a look and realized it was the same red Civic that had picked her up earlier.

I watched as he let her out.

When the car took off, she hadn’t moved from the front steps. I struggled to see in the darkness, but thanks to an overhead light on her porch, I could make out her shoulders rising and falling. Her head was in her hands as she sank to sit on the step.

She was crying.

Fuck.

What did he do to her?

My blood was pumping.

Against my better judgment, I felt my feet moving, one in front of the other, as if they were going with or without my approval to the main house.

“Hey,” I called. “Are you alright?”

She jumped. “You scared me.”

“Second time today I did that.”

She wiped her eyes. “I know.”

“I was out on my porch having a smoke, and I saw you with your head down.”

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine.”

“It’s not what you think.”

“What happened?”

She shook her head. “I’m not crying because he hurt me. I’m crying because I found the strength to turn him down when I was feeling weak. In the midst of my vulnerability, I found my self-worth. And it feels really good. These aren’t sad tears.” She sniffled. “You were right. Once a cheater, always a cheater. Even if he never cheated on me again, I wouldn’t be able to look him in the eyes and fully trust him. Ever. I deserve better.”

Damn.

Good girl.

“I’m proud of you.”

I took a seat next to her on the steps.

She turned to look at me. “I’m sorry for putting you in an uncomfortable position last night. I don’t know what came over me.”

I hadn’t expected her to bring that up.

“Don’t even think about apologizing. There’s nothing to apologize for. You were being forthright, and I admire your honesty. That’s why I owe you the very same.”

This was my opportunity to explain myself, so I took a deep breath in. “I need you to know that my turning you down has nothing to do with you. I’m wrong for you in so many ways, and knowing that, I can’t take advantage of the situation—no matter how tempting it might be.”

“Rejection stings,” she said. “But I don’t regret saying those things because I would never know how you feel otherwise. Now I do. You don’t have to worry about me doing something like that again. I only have to be told once—or twice. The bottom line is, I heard it loud and clear. I won’t be coming onto you again.”

“I don’t know…are sure you can resist?” I winked.

“I can manage.” She laughed and wiped the remnants of her tears. “Can we be friends?”

I smiled. “Yeah.”

The tension in the air was thick, but at least she didn’t seem mad.

She looked up at the sky and yawned. “I’m tired, but I’m totally wired at the same time. I won’t be able to sleep. Will you stay up with me for a little bit?”

Considering everything she’d just told me, that seemed innocent enough.

“Sure.”

I liked hanging out with Heather.

“Did you end up eating the bread?” she asked.

I laughed. “No…but I’m pretty sure it’s stale by now.”

“Not if you toast it,” she said. “Want to try?”

I stood up. “Sure. Let’s do it.”

Our shoes scraped along the gravel as we walked together back to the boathouse. Crickets chirped. It was another beautiful night on the lake with the moon casting a glow over the property.

Heather waited on the porch while I went inside to toast the garlic bread. She seemed to know the drill; I never invited her inside, so she didn’t bother to try to follow me.