“The V Hotel.” Anushka dips into her pocket and takes out my phone. “This is yours.”
I take it from her, and I have a small slice of hope that maybe he texted or called. But there’s nothing. My phone has no messages or missed calls.
Another tear rolls down my cheek, and Anushka comes and holds me. Her simple touch makes me crumble, and the tears that I have been holding back crash down on me.
After a while, Anushka and I sit on the ground with our backs leaning on the side of the bed.
“Everything hurts,” I whisper.
“It would. But it will pass,” Anushka whispers.
The window is open, and the lights from the Charleswood Christmas tree glitter in gold.
“I should be angry, but I am more disappointed in myself, you know?” I wipe my face. “All he chooses are self-preservation and money.”
“Give it time, hun. Tomorrow is another day.” Anushka rises and fixes her dress.
I nod. “Yes.”
“I spoke to someone at the house. We will have your stuff in the morning. Then you and I can road trip back to the city.”
I smile. “Thank you so much, Anushka.”
“We girls got to stick together. Good night.”
I close my eyes and sigh. “Get it together, Noelle. You can survive this.”
I can survive Roman Voss. I wipe my last tear from under my chin. Holding onto the bed, I stand. That will be the last tear I cry over Roman.
For the first time in weeks, I feel so alone. No Roman, no fake fiancé. I really allowed him to invade my heart and colonize it.
The bedroom door is huge, and it stares at me. Part of me hopes that Roman walks through, saying that he is sorry and wanting to explain.
But that’s not happening. He is not coming. I chuckle to myself. Despite all of this, a small traitorous part of my heart wants Roman, loves Roman. But loving Roman Voss hurts, and I refuse to live in that pain.
Chapter ten
RULE #9: Family first.
ROMAN
Everything hurts. My face, my stomach, and my pride. I groan, thinking about Noelle’s face after I ripped her heart out. I should get up. I try to move, but something heavy is thrown over my stomach. Where am I?
I peel my eyes open, and I see the white and blue pillows. The pool house. I don’t even know how I got here. In the summer, it’s warm and cozy, but in the winter, there is a draft. I look down and see that someone threw a beige blanket over me.
Someone nudges my side, like they are pressing their face to my side.
From the shock of short blonde hair, I think it’s Liam. I wonder what he is doing here. I lay back on the pillow, wondering if Noelle is okay. I said so much shit last night. I hear a crunching of snow and gravel. The door opens, and the morning light hits my face. I groan and move to the side.
“Both of you get up!” It’s a stern voice sounding eerily like my father. I roll onto my side.
A bag of frozen peas lands next to me. “Put that shit on your eye. You too.”
Liam moans beside me. “Go away; let me sleep.”
From the corner of my eye, I see my father walk away. My mom approaches the bed and sits next to me.
“Here, press it to your eye before it gets bigger.”
