The second time I woke, I was alone. Again.
The sheets beside me were cold. No warmth lingering, no indent in the pillow.
He was gone.
God, I'm so fucking dumb.
The realization hurt, stealing the air from my lungs. I sat up too fast, the room tilting slightly as fury and hurt twisted together in my chest.
Of course.Of course he'd left. What had I expected? That one night would change anything? That his promises meant something this time?
I was an idiot. A complete and utter?—
My bedroom door opened.
Eric stood in the doorway, holding a paper bag and a drink carrier with two coffee cups.
I stared at him.
He stared back.
"You're awake." He stepped inside, setting the bag and coffees on my nightstand. "I was trying to be quiet. To get back before you woke up. I didn't want you thinking I left."
"Right." It was hard to keep the hurt from my voice, although I was relieved.
He hadn't just abandoned me again. Used me for one last night of fun and run off from my life.
I took some comfort in that.
His expression softened. "I went to get breakfast."
"Why? There's food here."
"Ivy, if you class stale bread and cereal as breakfast, then…" He clucked his tongue, and I rolled my eyes.
"Fine, I do need to do groceries," I muttered.
He gestured to the bag. "There's a place two blocks over that makes incredible bagels. I got you everything bagel with cream cheese and lox because I remember that used to be your favorite, but I also got plain with strawberry in case your tastes changed."
I just stared at him, my brain struggling to catch up.
He remembered those things? Even after all this time? Why did that both upset and anger me? Was it because he took the time to learn and care but not the time to think of the pain he caused when he left the first time?
Why were men so goddamn daft sometimes?
"And coffee," he continued, picking up one of the cups. "Iced vanilla latte, extra vanilla, light ice. Though if you want something different now, I can go back?—"
"Stop." I held up a hand. "Just... stop for a second."
He stopped.
I took a breath, trying to organize my thoughts. "You remembered everything I used to like."
"Yes."
"How? Why was it important enough to remember? Why did you care enough about those things but not enough to talk to me before you left?" I wasn't about to beat around the bush.
"Because I was stupid, Ivy, and I know that. I can safely admit, I'm not the brightest bulb sometimes. Especially not where you are involved," he said as he sat on the bed beside me, offering me one of those soft smiles that made me want to both kiss him and punch him.
