Page 79 (1/2)

If soarded Ruby the way Stephen had looked at Portia, I would turn ho hot: Tony looked at her that way

"Nothing happened before," she said "I promise, Niall"

"I believe you And I’m not surprised, Porsh I saw the way he looked at you"

She laughed "Yes Like that one girl at your office, when I dropped off the papers to sign She had hearts in her eyes, watching you"

I felt sohtly Christ Even Portia had seen it

"Ruby?" I asked, and saying her nah my chest

"She’s tall, beautiful Alass to my lips and said, "That’s her"

Portia’s eyes widened in comprehension "She’s the one you’ve been with?" She paused "The one you love?"

Again, I nodded, not even a hint of doubt lingering

"She’s wanted you for ages and you were finally together?" Portia sounded like a schoolgirl And it was a testament to our distance that she’d invitedher back and had so easily let the idea fall away "Niall, it’s so romantic"

"Like you and Stephen?"

"Well, I’ any her head as she asked, "Tell me what happened?"

And like this, withanxiously in my throat, I confessed the entire affair to Portia

I told her about New York, Tony’s not being able to co in his place I told her about Ruby’s feelings for months before I are, her beauty, her humor, and how she put ing, h I likely didn’t need to, I told her how I knew she needed more from me--more coht

"And then I came here for dinner," I ad like I was lying--because I did intend to hear you out, Portia--but I didn’t want her to think that I was coroaned, re her vacant expression, the way she’d absently wandered fro entirely "I’ve made a terrible"You know you’ve got to fix it"

I nodded, feeling sick I didn’t know if it was that easy I’d messed up, enormously

She paused "I love you, you know?"

Her voice held a rare poignancy She’d said this only a handful of tie and here, the words spilled out soup at her, I said, "Love you, too, Porsh"

And then, the faed down the steps to the street, already dialing Ruby’s nu