“I’ll stay with you until your ride comes. Okay?”
Though she was close to tears again, she held back, not wanting him to feel any guiltier than he already did. Moving slowly so as not to upset her stomach, she walked with him to the front of the hotel and waited in the cold until her ride pulled up. She got inside the car, grateful for the warm air blasting through the vents, and stayed silent during the drive.
Once she was safely back in her apartment, she shed her formal garments and let down her hair. It cascaded around her shoulders in soft ringlets—something she’d done for Drew’s benefit. Tomorrow, she’d brush it out, but she didn’t have the energy to do anything now except change into her pajamas. Grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge, she sat on her couch and cried.
She let loose with huge, gulping sobs that racked her entire body. Not just for Drew but for all of it—the demanding hours she’d been working, the fear of losing her job, and the constant strain of trying to meet her boss’s expectations.
But mostly for Drew and what could have been.
Twenty-Three
As Rosie’sride pulled away, Drew felt like he’d been gut punched. Had he been a fool to be so honest with her? She’d had a lot to drink, so she wasn’t entirely clearheaded. Plus, they were at a wedding, which put most people in a romantic frame of mind. He could have suggested they talk about it later, when they were both sober.
Instead, he’d been painfully honest, admitting he couldn’t give her what she wanted. No matter how much he cared for her, he couldn’t open himself up completely.
In all fairness, he’d never misled her. Right from the start, he’d told her he couldn’t give her more. He’d never lied to her or strung her along.
So why did he feel like a selfish asshole?
He made his way back into the ballroom, no longer willing to spend another minute at this wedding. He doubted anyone would care if he left, given that the evening was winding to a close. Though his table still bore signs of life—purses and jackets strung over chairs—everyone had migrated to the dance floor. Good. This way, he wouldn’t have to explain why he was leaving without Rosie.
As he was heading out, he passed the table where Evelyn’s parents sat. She stood beside it, chatting with them. He wanted to brush past them, but his good manners kicked in.
“Evelyn, thanks so much for inviting me, but I’m going to take off,” he said. “It was a lovely reception.”
She frowned and motioned him to the side, a few steps away from her parents. “Where did Rosie go?”
“She wasn’t feeling well, so she left a few minutes ago.”
“You didn’t go with her? That’s not very chivalrous.”
Shame curdled in his stomach. He’d never intended to hurt Rosie, but he’d made her so upset that she’d fled the wedding without him. Not that he’d admit it to Evelyn. “It’s what she wanted.”
His defense sounded weak, like he didn’t give a shit. Which was the exact opposite of how he felt.
Evelyn regarded him with pity. “Oh, Drew. She found out the truth, didn’t she?”
“What truth?” As her parents turned to look at them, he lowered his voice. “What are you talking about?”
She blew out a huffy breath. “That you aren’t capable of real emotional commitment. The last time I saw her at the gym, I almost warned her about you, but I assumed she wouldn’t listen.”
What the hell? He kept his voice a soft hiss, aware her parents were watching them. “That’s bullshit. I was committed to you. I cared about us. In case you’ve forgotten, I’m not the one who cheated.”
“But you never trusted me enough to give me your whole heart.” She shrugged. “Not that it matters anymore. When I went back to Jared, he was more than willing to be open and vulnerable with me. To admit that he loved me, even when he wasn’t sure I’d reciprocate his feelings. If you can’t give Rosie the love and affection she needs, then she deserves better.”
He wanted to snap at her, but what kind of a jerk would he be if he yelled at the bride? Instead, he pasted on a false smile. “I guess so. Like I said, I’m gonna take off. Have a great Christmas.”
“Oh, I will, you can count on it.”
Still holding his anger in check, he left, stalking out into the cold night air.
He didn’t want to think about Christmas. For the first time in years, he’d been looking forward to it, eager to experience one of Rosie’s favorite holiday traditions. Now, he wouldn’t get to enjoy that, either.
As he pulled up his phone to order a ride, he saw a text from Rosie, sent a few minutes ago.
Rosie: Arrived home safely. Good night.
Drew: Thanks for checking in. And for being my plus-one. Good night.
