Even hours later, when the laundry is done, and the memories of what we shared last night creeps in, I know there is no way to win here. Not completely.
When I try to sleep, I’m haunted by the look in her eyes. It hurt her that I wasn’t staying. It hurt her that I didn’t fight harder.
It all comes down to what I’m willing to lose.
I want to choose Greylin, but the potential to lose everything pulls me down like gravity. Maybe the taste I had of what could be is going to have to be enough.
CHAPTER 9
GREYLIN
Even though I’m aware the world is not out to get me, it certainly feels like it is. And I know right when the tide of my life turned. It was days ago when I was enjoying the afterglow of a life-changing orgasm.
Aiden went from the man who woke me up by worshiping my body—and what a way to wake up—to some closed off version of himself I had never met before. Even when we were allegedly on opposite sides of the Simmons divide, he wasn’t distant. Nor did he avoid me which was obvious with the number of times the man pulled me over.
And now where is he?
I have no fucking idea.
Becauseeven though it was awkward after we woke up in bed together, and he practically ran out of my house like his ass was on fire, I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Which is why I texted him that I hoped he got all his laundry done. And, by the way, what a lame ass excuse. He should have just said he had to wash his hair.
And all of that after a spectacular orgasm.
While Aiden didn’t ignore my text, he only replied with, “Sure did.”
That was it.
Sure did.
And it was the last time I heard from him.
It’s only been a few days, but still. I thought we shared something. It felt like something changed between us.
I don’t know what to make of what is going on, but I know I don’t like it.
What I’m not going to do is show up at his house like a mad woman. Desperation is not a good look and maybe, just maybe, I have to cut my losses and walk away.
My heart aches at the thought, but it could also be heartburn. Yeah. You know what, that’s probably all it is.
“Definitely heartburn,” I mumble to myself as I’m trying to look over the numbers for the months so far to see if I need to tweak any of the orders coming up. Sometimes something will surprise you and trend. If I can see it happening, I can get in front of it. It’s a flimsily choreographed dance.
And all of it is giving me a headache.
Or maybe it’s more heartburn.
“What are you talking about over there?” I look up at Meadow’s question.
I wave my hand dismissively, “Nothing. Don’t mind me, just looking over the trends.”
Meadow huffs and looks at me like she’s not buying what I’m selling. Yeah, well, that makes two of us then. When I glance at Mayer and Gemma, they’re not buying it either.
“Really,” I try to tell them, knowing it won’t make a bit of good, “it’s nothing.”
“I don’t know what you’re hiding,” Mayer points to me, her eyes narrowed, “but you know it’s always better when you don’t hold things in.”
“No one likes secrets,” Meadow chirps.
