Her shoulders slumpand she sits there staring at her place. I see another tear trickle down her cheek.
“Do you want me to help you inside, princess?”
Shaking her head, she reaches a trembling hand for the door handle and pulls it out. The door opens and it feels like all the blood drains from my body when she steps out of the car.
She won’t look at me and I groan. “Princess, please. Listen to me. I swear to you that I didn’t make a bet. You mean so much more to me than that. I’d never make light of how much I love you.”
Her shoulders shake and my body feels like it weighs a million pounds. I turn to the door to get out but her hand comes up and she turns to me, her head lifting.
My whole body goes cold. The pain in her eyes just about breaks me in two. “Don’t. Just don’t. I need time. Need to think.”
And then she turns and shambles away It feels like I can’t breathe.
She reaches her door and opens it, closing it quietly without ever looking at me again.
That door closing feels like it’s over to me. But I know she’s hurting and I hope to God that when she feels better she’ll realize that I’m not kidding. I mean every damn word I’ve said to her.
I love her. I can’t live without her.
Dragging in a shaky breath, I start the car and pull away, automatically driving to my house to get ready for work. I’m not sure when Liam’s gonna get all the kids moving but I know that I need to get my scones and muffins ready.
I’m supposed to be trying a new key lime pie muffin today but I don’t feel like I’ll be able to without screwing something up. And for the first time in my life, I don’t want to go into work. I don’t want to see the guys.
I just want to stay home and lick my wounds in peace. And pray that when Lily feels better she’ll call me. I already miss her.
As soon as I open the door, my phone rings and I groan when I see my buddy’s number. He’s a distant cousin on my mom’s side and I haven’t talked to him in forever.
“Lassie, my man! How are you doing?”
There’s dead silence on the other end of the line. Then, “what the hell’s wrong with you? You sound like your dog died.”
“I don’t have a dog.”
“You know what I mean. What’s wrong?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Too fucking bad. I called to talk and I’m not listening to you like this.”
“Call later then.”
“Seriously, what’s going on?” He asks.
Sighing, I sit down on the couch and stare at the wall, groaning when I see a stray sock in a vivid shade of green that I know isn’t mine. Crossing the room, I pick it up and hold it tight, my hands shaking.
“Tell me, fucker. I don’t know what’s got your ass so messed up but talk. Now.”
“I met a girl.”
“Ahhh,” he chuckles. “Woman trouble.”
“Don’t sound so pleased. It wasn’t so long ago that you didn’t have Verity. How’s she doing anyway?”
“She’s doing good. Got everything up and running up here. I’ve updated my internet so she can still work.”
“That’s good. I’m happy for you, man. What happened to that guy?”
“Oh, his court case isn’t going too well. We fully expect him to go to jail for a long time.”
