“If clothes are wearable, then they’re not ruined. Consider it an alternate fashion statement.” She moves behind her desk as though it offers protection or power, but it’s not going to deter me in the least. She remains standing and leans forward with her hands on the wood surface, supporting her weight. “If you think a bunch of flowers can undo all your mistakes, then you’re a bigger fool than I thought.”
Here we go…
“I’m not a fool, Charlotte, only one in love.”
She jolts back at the word and shakes her head. “No. No. Don’t you dare go there!”
I take a step closer. “Iamgoing there.”
She looks up at the ceiling with a sarcastic expression. “Bullshit.” She then glares at me, adding, “If you loved me, you wouldn’t have left.”
Straight to the target, but fuck, that arrow still hurts.
“I leftbecauseI loved you,” I snap. “You deserved more than—” I duck when she throws a photo frame at me. “Jesus.”
“Out,” she screams and points to the door. I turn to see her talking to her security guard, who closes the door. Next, she picks up a paperweight and throws it at me, narrowlymissing again. Thank fuck I have quick feet. My heart is racing, but I remain undeterred. The venomous look in her eyes would send any man running, but I know Charlotte, know if she’s emotional about something, then she cares, and I fucking care a whole lot for her. I round the desk, but she lifts an arm.
“No. Donotcome any closer.”
“You deserved someone who didn’t disappoint you,” I offer gently.
She’s shaking her head vehemently, then covers her ears. “Just fucking stop.”
My gut tightens, feeling the pain she feels, a sword twisting when we spent years suppressing the painful truth. “Your parents had high hopes for you. I could never live up to the man they expected for you.”
“Ah… you’re an idiot,” she screams.
I push on, knowing her anger will open the door that she has tightly locked around her heart. And I promised myself I would do what it takes, which is to break through her armor. “I betrayed Byron, disappointed your family, and lost the trust of my teammates. How could I stay?”
“Easily,” she yells, then she dives at me and pushes my chest, but I remain unmoving. A dull headache pulses above my brow. I hate seeing the agony in her eyes because I understand what it does.
“By leaving, you betrayedme.” She shoves me again, and this time, I take a step back, her words striking where it hurts.
“I was protecting you.”
She thumps my chest, but I barely feel the contact, numb from the anger and hurt flowing between us.
“You were a fucking coward, nothing more.” Charlotte turns her back and walks to the door. “If you won’t leave, then I will because nothing,nothingyou say can fix whatyou broke.” I promised myself her words would not spear the skin because they are just words, but my gut is twisting despite all my efforts to remain composed without pulling her into my arms and holding her tight.
I leap in front of her, blocking her way. We need to finish this. “That’s where you’re wrong. Iwillfix us. You fucking got me back here, and it won’t be for nothing.”
“I never got you back,” she growls out. “I fought it on every level except the desire to win a championship, and then common sense overruled. You willneverget another chance at us.”
I smile because she doesn’t sound convincing despite the venom lacing her voice. “You know me, Lottie, I won’t give up trying.”
“Oh, but you did, three years ago, to be exact. Or was it because I wasn’t worth fighting for?”
My heart fucking hurts for her, for us. “I’m not going anywhere,” I tell her again.
“At least your teammates will be pleased.”
My chest heaves in and out as frustration deepens the throb in my temples. “Stop acting as though everything you do is for the team,” I bite back.
“Everything I doisfor the team,” she splutters. “It’s theonlyreason you’re here.”
I nod. “Because it’s easier to heal your heart if you don’t have to see the person who hurt you every day.”
“Hurt me? You fuckingdestroyedme.” Her face glows red. “Now get out so I can enjoy my night.”
