Becoming My Ex’s Mother in Law by Aurora Starling

Chapter 36

I gaped at Noah, unsure of what to say. He was proposing to me? But we hardly knew each other!

“You hardly know any man,” Susan reminded me. “You were the one who thought that he was marriage material.”

“Yes, but he’s-”

“Not Andrew.”

I could tell by the look on Noah’s face that I was already taking too long to answer, so I had to come up with something to say, and quickly.

“Noah,” I began, “I am so flattered, but I can’t.”

His face crumpled. My heart broke, but I remained resolute.

“I told you before, I want to focus on reclaiming my company before I consider our relationship. With the accountant missing, I think it’s more important than ever for me to remain focused on that.”

“We can focus on that, together-”

“And we will, but for now, I think it would be best to keep things platonic so that we don’t distract each other.”

He pursed his l*ps and then nodded reluctantly. He stood up and snapped the ring box shut.

“Here,” he said, holding the box out to me. “I want you to have this.”

I shook my head and tried to push the hand with the ring box back towards him.

No, Noah, I can’t take that. It’s too much.”

“Crystal, please. This is important to me.”

Looking into his pleading eyes, I couldn’t say no. I nodded and gingerly took The Box from Noah’s hand, then cradled it close to my chest.

Hank you I really appreciate it.”

Chapter 36

Noah grabbed my hand and lightly k*ssed the knuckles.

“No, thank you.”

As I had promised myself, I was out of Noah’s house the next day, with only some meager possessions left behind that I couldn’t fit into my car. Noah tried to persuade me once more to stay with him longer, but I couldn’t take advantage of his generosity any further. I could just stay in my car until I found something else, I told him and myself.

By the time the workday was over and I saw how foggy and overcast it was outside, I started to have second thoughts about my living arrangements.

I considered staying in the employee lounge, at least for the night, but I didn’t want to explain to anyone who might come by and see the light on or tell Lily why the electricity bill had gone up. No, I would just have to hunker down in some parking lot and hope for the best-after I got something cheap to eat.

I walked about four blocks away from Every After Weddings to a low-key café called Miranda’s Brew. Inside, the place was cozy and comfortable, with exposed brick and a fireplace. It wasn’t very big, with only a few plush chairs and small tables to accompany them, but I didn’t mind; I needed the homier atmosphere at the moment.

I ordered a turkey sandwich and a tall mocha, then took a seat near the fireplace. It wasn’t the same as being able to eat a homemade sandwich in my own apartment, but it was the most comfort that I could afford for now.

I was scrolling through ads for the cheapest apartments in the city when I heard some voices that I did not want to hear.

“Crystal? Crystal, is that you?” Terri called out.

I cringed. I did not want to talk to anyone I knew.

“Hi, Terri,” I said as I turned to face her.

wore & black, knee-length, sparkling dress and black stilettos. Her short

i had been styled and bobbed, and she grasped a clutch in right hand. oung women with her were similarly dressed obviously ready for

Chapter 36

“What are you doing here? I’m not used to seeing you out and about. You always seem like such a homeb*dy after work.” Terri said bluntly.

I blushed.

“I wouldn’t say that. You just haven’t caught me where I hang out before,” I said, even though what she said was technically true.

“Oh? Where do you usually go?”

“You know, here and there,” I mumbled. “Why are you here? You certainly don’t seem dressed to grab an espresso and read a good book.”

Terri laughed.

“No, I’m not. We’re just grabbing some lattes before we head over to that new Latin dance club on 5(th) Street. You want to come?”

As much fun as that sounded, I knew that I couldn’t go. Where would I change into appropriate clubbing clothes? That was without mentioning that I didn’t have the money for the entrance fee, the drinks, the food…

“That sounds great, but I think I’m just going to finish my coffee and sandwich and then enjoy a quiet night in,” I replied.

“Well, it does seem like a good night for it,” Terri said, looking out at the dreary landscape. She turned back to me. “Try to have some fun, though, okay?”

I smiled at her.

“I will. You be safe out there.”

“Don’t worry, we will. There’s safety in numbers!”

And don’t come in with a hangover tomorrow. Don’t forget, it’s our big mid- year discount event!”

Twouldn’t miss it for the world!”

Terri returned to her friends, and I collapsed back in my seat, glad to have

any uncomfortable questions that might have revealed the truth of

ust wandered how long I would be able to hide it.

Chapter 36

The cold night air sent a shiver through me as I walked back to Ever After Wedding’s parking lot. I cursed myself for forgetting to grab a coat from my car before going to grab food. Just as this thought crossed my mind, rain began to pour down on me.

As the ground became sl*ppery, walking in my heels grew increasingly difficult. Sighing. I stooped down and took off my shoes, electing to carry them and walk in my bare feet. I prayed that I would reach my car soon so that I could crank up the heater and have some semblance of warmth.

I thought about all my options for solving my homeless problem. Even if I found a cheap enough apartment, I didn’t have enough money saved up for the security deposit and first and last month’s rent, not all at once. I could get help from Lily or Noah, but they had both already done so much for me that I didn’t want to take advantage of me.

Then there was Andrew. Susan said that his liking of me was now 99.999%; he would do anything for me. And I would do anything for him.

But I had sworn on the Moon Goddess not to go near him. I was pretty sure that Lisa would keep me to that promise, and I couldn’t do that to Lily and the rest of the employees at Ever After Weddings. No, this was my burden to bear, not theirs.

As these thoughts raced through my mind, a shiver ran up my spine, and it had nothing to do with the cold. I thought I heard something, a low rumble, and when I turned, I could just barely see the shape and headlights of a car penetrate the deep fog. Remembering my incident with Bob, I did exactly what my instincts told me to do: I ran.

I didn’t care if I was running in the right direction to reach my car or not. I only wanted to get away from the car as quickly as possible.

I heard the car still driving behind me. My heart raced as my feet tried to keep up with it. My lungs ached, and my muscles burned.

in the blindness of the fog. I took a turn and found myself met with the brick

of an alley, I pounded against it, as though that could make it move, but nothing happened. When I turned around, the car that chased me

the other end of the alley.

door of the cat open. I pressed myself up

0

wall as a hulking male figure holding an umbrella approached me.

Susan, however, was not afraid.

“Sniff,” she instructed me.

I did as she told me. Labdanum and sea salt rushed my senses.

“Andrew.

I took out my phone and turned on the flashlight so that I could see him. better. He smiled broadly at me.

“Hello, Crystal. We have to stop meeting like this.”