I folded my arms. “Go ahead. Enjoy yourselves at my expense.”
Torre put his hand on my arm. “I think he’s trying to say welcome to the family.”
And that stunned me. When Presley’s parents died, all the love they gave me withered away.
“Thank you.” More emotional than I’d ever expected to be, I excused myself to use the restroom, but it was merely a pretense to be alone. I should’ve known I couldn’t run.
Presley came in and closed the door. “Are you okay?”
“I don’t know.”
His smile was tender and wise. “It’s time, already. Let yourself be happy.”
“I am.” I splashed some water on my face and shook off the droplets.
“I know you are. With Torre. So it’s time to leave behind whatever is holding you to the past. Move forward with your happiness.”
He walked out, and I glared into the mirror. “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
And here I thought you were so smart. I thought you’d figure it out.I could see the devil smirking.You have to want to be happy. You don’t want it bad enough yet.
“Asshole,” I muttered and walked out, but I wasn’t sure if I meant myself or that damn devil.
After seeing Press and Nate into their car, Torre and I walked to his apartment, passing by other couples holding hands or cuddled close, and I wondered why I couldn’t be like them and allow myself to enjoy what I had right there with me.
We walked inside Torre’s apartment, and he took out his phone and keys and set them on the counter. Still silent and dark-eyed, he toed off his shoes, while I left him and threw myself on the sofa. I gnawed on my fingernail, my foot tapping a relentless rhythm.
“Did I say something wrong?” Torre came over and sat next to me.
“What?” I stared at him. “No. Of course not. I…” I blew out a breath. “Look. You know I’m no saint. Not by a mile. I see what I want and I take it, then get bored and throw it away.”
His eyes widened, and the lovely fire that had kindled in them died. “Oh.” Torre’s beautiful mouth drooped, and I grabbed his hand.
“I’d always planned a life of freedom and doing as I pleased. Then you busted in, and I veered off-course.” I leaned over and kissed him until I tasted his smile. “I never planned on you.”
“What are you trying to say?” Torre breathed against my cheek. “I’m not understanding, although maybe it’s all the champagne.”
This was the hard part. “Working atUltimate, you’re going to see people I’ve slept with, and they might not have the most pleasant things to say about me.”
“Like Matt?”
My lip curled. “Yeah. He wanted more. I didn’t.”
Torre shrugged. “I mean, it happens all the time.”
“There are others.” Never had I wished my past away more than now.
“Frisco, I understood this. I knew you weren’t relationship material. You never made a secret of that.”
“What if I said it’s not who I am anymore? That I don’t want to be like that?”
“I’d have to ask you why.”
And I froze because I didn’t want to think about what it meant.
Fear, thy name is Frisco.
“Because if I’m with you, I can’t…I won’t…goddamn it.I despise cheaters. I’d be no better than my parents if I did that, and I’m not them. I’m better than that. I have to be.”
