"It's okay, peanut," he said. "You don't have to make any decisions tonight. Let's get you home. It can wait untiltomorrow."
"It's fine," she replied, accepting the papers. She took care to check the details on each page before moving onto the next, and she held her pen above the signature line for a long moment. She shifted her gaze from the document to Matt, pointing her pen at him. "Is this what you want? Selling? Or do you want to keep the house in the family? It's all wehaveleft."
"The thing is," Riley started, "you'll wake up one day and you'll realize that whatever you were clinging to is gone. The nice parts of our history, the happy memories…you'll keep those. But everything you've wanted to believe about this place, all the impossibilities and awfulness that you have to set aside, it will be gone. And that's when you'll realize you didn't truly want it. You wanted to believe it could be yours in a way that it never truly was, and it will be okay. You'll realize that everything you have isn't what you thought you wanted, but it's what you need. This house isn't whatweneed."
He glanced at me, a not-so-subtle hint that this speech wasn't just about the house, but everything we'd discussedtonight.
"Somehow, that makes complete sense." Matt held out his palm and then slapped it on the table. "I have no interest in living here. It's difficult to imagine anyone else living here, but I don't even want to be here right now. There's no way in hell I couldmovein."
Shannon stabbed her pen toward Sam. "You. What'syourvote?"
Sam tugged at his cuffs and twisted his wedding ring before meeting her gaze. "There's nothing in this house for me," he said. "The good times, the memories of Mom…I don't need to be here to holdontothem."
Shannon shifted in her seat to face Erin. "I know how you're leaning," she said. "But I need to hear yousayit."
"Sell," Erin replied. "Accept the first offeryouget."
"Then we're in agreement," Shannon said. With a heavy exhale, she brought her pen tothepage.
"And we're leaving," Riley announced as he retreated from thekitchen.
His hand was still wrapped around my elbow, but I didn't shake him off. It seemed that he needed something to keep him grounded, and nothing I'd heard tonight killed my feelings for him. I was hurt and angry, and stinging with betrayal, but I stilllovedhim.
We walked to his SUV in silence. Riley held the passenger door open for me, and waited until I was seated to round the vehicle. The roads were clear and the drive back to the city was quick, leaving no room for another round of discussion. And that was a blessing. Perhaps there was more to be said, but giving voice to those thoughts wasn't closing the gaps between us tonight. Our positions hadn't shifted since leaving that bedroom, even with everything he'd said about the house—and by extension,himself.
When Riley pulled up in front of my building, I paused, my fingers curled around the handle. "Riley—"
"Alex," he said, dragging his gaze from the streettome.
I nodded as my heart caught hold of this simple sentiment. "I know," I said, willing the sob out of my words. "But I think it would be best if we spend some timeapart."
I pushed the door open and stepped out, and then risked everything by glancing back at Riley. He made no attempt to follow me onto the curb, and I imagined that was a good thing. I couldn't say no when he was close andtouchingme.
I climbed the steps and then glanced back at him once more. He was shattered, but if it was possible, I didn't think anything he was experiencing hurt more than the pain ofwalkingaway.
"I know you don't think I'm ready now, but the next time you see me, Alexandra," he called, his words anchoring me at the front door, "Iwillbe."
The knob was cold under my fingers and I stared at it for a moment. Going upstairs alone would be difficult. Stripping off my dress and falling asleep without him close in my bed would be even harder. But I didn't see any other way. I required space to sort this out, and I couldn't have it with Riley right there, insisting he didn't want heranymore.
Pushing the door open, I called over my shoulder, "Besure."
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Alexandra
Riley:I know you don't want to hear from me right now but if you need anything, I'll be thereforyou.
Riley:Tacos, dragon noodles, cannoli,anything.
Riley:I walked by your building and your lights are on. Can I come up? Canwetalk?
Riley:I just want to know ifyou'reokay.
Riley:I know you'reseeingthis.
Riley:Aly…please.
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