The Crush by Ward Penelope (best book recommendations txt) 📕

leave the house,” I said as I opened the package of bread.

“She did. But I don’t think she would mind me being here.”

“Okay, but can you text her that you’re here so she knows?”

Nora nodded and pulled out her phone.

I took out some of the pita and popped it into the toaster oven. “How was school today?”

Nora shrugged. “It was okay.”

“Learn anything interesting?”

“Not really,” she muttered.

I chuckled. I used to give my mother the same kind of answer when she’d ask me. She used to pressure me to think of one thing I’d learned, and never accepted my original answer of “nothing much.”

“Why do you look sad?” Nora asked.

“I do? I didn’t realize that. I just remembered something that made me a little nostalgic.” I shook the thought from my head. “Anyway, what else is new with you?”

“Not much. How’s Jace?”

I still regretted telling her about my crush, so I skirted her question. “How’s Shawn?”

“He still doesn’t know I’m alive.”

“Yeah, well, sometimes that can be better than the reality. He can never hurt you if he doesn’t know you exist.”

She looked over at the toaster oven. “The bread is gonna burn.”

Shit! I jumped. “You’re right. Thank you.”

Having retrieved the bread just in the nick of time, I buttered it. The comfort I took in devouring that warm bread dripping with butter was just what the doctor ordered.

“This is really delicious,” I said with my mouth full. “Thanks for bringing it.”

“Thanks for being home so I didn’t have to eat it alone.” Nora grinned. “And for the butter.”

“You’re always welcome over here. I just like it when you ask permission first.”

“Can we go swimming?”

I stopped chewing for a moment. “I suppose, but you’d have to ask your mom if it’s okay.”

She texted her mother again. After a moment, her phone dinged with a response and she frowned.

“Mom wants me to go home and do my homework instead. She says she doesn’t want to be worrying about me swimming while she’s at work.”

I felt bad for Nora but could understand her mother’s concern. “I’ll tell you what, maybe we can ask your mom to come over one of these weekends with you. I bet she’d be more comfortable with you swimming in the pool if she was here to watch.”

“Yeah, maybe.” Still looking sad, she hopped down from her seat. “Well, I’d better go.”

“Cheer up. Get your homework done so you can relax.”

She waved. “Bye, Farrah.”

After the door closed behind her, I let out a long sigh. Nora didn’t have it easy being left alone so much; she deserved some fun.

A few seconds later, there was a knock at the door. I looked at the rest of the pita on the counter and figured Nora had come back for it. But my heart dropped the second I opened the door because it wasn’t Nora—it was that angry man, James, the guy who’d come to the house before, looking for the money Muldoon Construction owed him.

My heart pounded as I shut the door halfway, with only my head peeking out. “How can I help you?”

“You can help me by telling me where the fuck Jace is. I just went to his office, but he’s not there. I want my fucking money, and I’m not waiting another day for it.”

My voice was shaky. “Listen...I totally understand how you feel. The company is in a bit of a predicament, and I know he’s doing everything in his power to—”

“I said, I want my fucking money!” he shouted. “And I’m not leaving until I get it.”

“Okay, well, I can’t let you inside, so…”

“That’s fine. I’ll wait right fucking here until he gets back.”

Fear consumed me. What exactly was he going to do if Jace couldn’t come up with the money?

Just then Jace’s truck appeared, screeching to a halt in front of the house. He didn’t even bother to pull into the driveway properly before he slammed the door and ran toward us.

His anger was initially directed toward me as he panted. “I told you not to open the fucking door!”

“I thought it was Nora. She was just here a second ago. It’s the only reason I didn’t check.”

He turned to James. “You have no right coming here.”

“I’m not leaving until I get my money.”

Jace scrubbed a hand over his face and blew out a long breath. “Get in your car and follow me to the bank on Wheeler Street.”

James huffed and reluctantly got back into his vehicle. Adrenaline coursed through me as they both took off because I still wasn’t sure what was happening. Was Jace going to take money out of his own account? Would James pull something if Jace couldn’t come up with the full amount?

I spent the next half hour worrying my head off about what was happening down at the bank.

When Jace’s truck finally pulled into the driveway and I could see he was safe, I let out a huge sigh of relief. I opened the front door and waited for him at the threshold.

“Is everything okay?” I asked as he approached.

He ignored my question and glared at me as he entered the house. “What did I tell you about opening the door when you’re home alone, Farrah?”

“I told you, the only reason I answered was because Nora had just left. I assumed it was her—that she forgot something. It was bad luck. If I’d known it was him, I wouldn’t have opened.”

“He didn’t touch you, did he?”

“No. He didn’t lay a hand on me.” I sighed. “I’m sorry I opened the door.”

Jace expelled a long, slow breath and seemed to calm down. “It’s okay. I’m sorry for yelling at you.”

“What happened at the bank?”

“It’s taken care of.”

“How?”

“I gave him his twenty grand.”

“From your own account?”

“Yeah. It sucks, but I want him to leave us alone.”

It didn’t surprise me that Jace had enough money in his account to pay James back. I knew his job in Charlotte had paid well, and he didn’t seem to blow away money.

“I was so worried about