The Divorce That Brought Us Back novel Chapter 48

When Maloney drove up to Cassidy's apartment building, he immediately spotted Nora standing blankly on the sidewalk through his window.

He rolled down the passenger window and called out, "Nora."

The wind scattered his voice, and Nora didn't react at all.

Maloney raised his voice and called out twice more, but Nora remained entirely absorbed in her own thoughts, standing frozen in place.

Seeing this, Maloney unbuckled his seatbelt, pushed the car door open, and stepped out. He walked up to her and called her name once more: "Nora."

Yet, Nora still didn't react.

What was the little lady thinking about so deeply?

Maloney's gaze carefully swept over Nora. He noticed her flushed cheeks, her tightly pressed lips, and her hands nervously wringing together.

A surge of affection hit him. Maloney bent down slightly, leaning in close to Nora until his warm breath brushed against her earlobe, and he called out softly, "Nora!"

Nora jolted, snapping her head around to look at Maloney with wide eyes.

She looked terrified; her knees buckled, and she nearly collapsed onto the pavement.

Maloney was quick. He reached out his long arm, firmly steadying Nora by her elbow.

He called her name again: "Nora."

Nora's face instantly burned bright red, the tips of her ears so flushed they looked ready to bleed.

She was trembling like a startled little hamster.

"M-Maloney," Nora stammered, frantically looking away. "When did you get here?"

Seeing her like this, Maloney's gaze grew even darker. He slowly reached out, gently caressing her cheek before his thumb and index finger lightly pinched her burning earlobe. "What were you thinking about?" he asked in a raspy voice.

Nora's body grew even weaker.

Maloney pulled her closer, gently stroking her head to soothe her. "Nora?"

Nora pressed her hands against Maloney's chest. Her memories were violently crashing through her mind, the past colliding with the present until she couldn't tell reality from illusion.

"I... I wasn't thinking about anything," she lied, taking a deep breath to force herself to calm down. "Let's go home."

Maloney kissed her ear, and feeling her body go completely limp, he effortlessly scooped her up with one arm. He gently placed her into the passenger seat and buckled her in. "Alright, let's go home."

On the drive back.

Nora couldn't get her emotions under control.

She cracked the window open, staring out at the passing scenery while lightly fanning her face with her hand.

She was desperately trying to dispel the heat.

"Nora," Maloney suddenly spoke.

"Ah?" Nora instantly sat up straight. "Yes!"

Maloney asked, "Are you still mad at me?"

Mad?

What was she mad about?

Nora tilted her head in confusion. "I'm not mad."

Maloney gave a slight nod. "Good."

The atmosphere in the car was undeniably strange.

Nora had never ridden in Maloney's car before this week, and the few rides they'd shared recently made her inexplicably awkward; she didn't know what to do with her hands or feet.

She lightly dug her fingernails into her thigh, suddenly remembering how, the last time she was in this car, she had accidentally spotted the torn divorce papers shoved under the seat.

Tilting her head, she sneaked a peek down below—the divorce papers were gone.

During their previous argument, she had accidentally brought it up, so Maloney must have thrown them out.

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