I loved Lucas.
I was going tomarryLucas.
James has been single for years. I can’t expect him to suddenly change because we slept together once. For all I know, that message he just received could have been from another woman, and I have no right to feel possessive.
I can’t act like he owes me anything.
I cringe at my own actions, becoming consumed by shame. I abruptly stand from my stool, stepping back as if creating distance could somehow erase what we did last night.
“April,” James says, reaching for me.
I pull away, avoiding his touch.
“What just happened? What’s wrong?” His voice is laced with concern as he stands, and his expression shifts from confused to worried.
Tears brim my eyes. “What did we do?” I whisper, bringing my hand to cover my mouth as the reality sinks in. “What did wedo?” I repeat, my voice frayed.
I blink and a lone tear slips down my cheek.
I look at James, scanning his face for an answer, desperate to find a solution to my turmoil in the depths of his ivy-green eyes.
He just stands there, shocked. His throat works as he swallows.
“I should go,” I say, turning to head for the front door.
“Go? What? April, you don’t have to go—you haven’t even finished your coffee. We can talk about this.” His voice is anguished as he reaches for me again, but I dodge, moving past him.
I quickly pluck my phone off the table. My grip wavers as I swipe to unlock the screen and pull up the Uber app, punching in my address. I connect with a driver one minute away.
“What are you doing?” he asks, stepping forward cautiously.
“I’m leaving,” I reply, eyes glued to my phone as the car icon moves closer.
“You don’t have to leave. Can we please just talk about this?” His voice is so thick with hurt that I finally look up, meeting his eyes. “I don’t want you to go.” His voice is hollow and stripped of hope.
My phone vibrates with a notification: My Uber is here.
“This was a mistake. I’m sorry.”
“A mistake,” he echoes.
“Yes. A mistake.”
His arms fall to his sides, defeated, his face painting a tortured picture. His jaw tenses as his eyes flicker to the unfinished food and drink on the counter before returning to meet mine, searching for something—anything—that might change my mind.
With one last look at James, I release a rattled breath. My hand rests on the door handle when his voice reaches me.
“April …” But the words die on his lips.
“Bye, James,” I whisper, stepping through the door.
I slide into the Uber, dropping my head back against the headrest and close my eyes.
Fuck.
What did I just do?
Chapter 28
