Nash hated that what she said was true, but he knew the reason. “I’ve been happy because this is a vacation.”
Her face fell. “So I’m your vacation romance?”
“No.” Nash felt like he was drowning, but nothing he did or said would save him. Ivy was his lifeline, but she wasn’t helping him. “That came out wrong. I’m sorry.”
“Are you?” Her hard gaze cut into him like a blade. “You say you don’t want to hurt me, yet you keep doing it and end up having to apologize.”
“I know. And I hate it.” The harder he tried, the worse things seemed to get. But he couldn’t lose her. The thought he might sent panic surging through him. “Tell me what I can do to fix this. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
A beat passed. And another.
“You can’t.” Ivy stood. She squared her shoulders, but that didn’t hide the quiver of her bottom lip or the gleam in her eyes. “My family warned me, but I defended you. I fell for you hard. Never thinking they were right. Trusting you. Believing in you. But you know what? You are bad for me.”
Nash jumped to his feet. He reached for her, but she moved away so fast his hand hit only air. “Ivy, please—”
“I never thought you could hurt me more than you did in Seattle. But you have.” She rubbed her eyes. “This has nothing to do with the duet. It’s because you agreed to have a ‘fake’ girlfriend when you have a ‘real’ one right here. I won’t be a secret. Your ‘other’ woman. Because that’s what the media and fans would call me if they found out even though I was here first. I deserve better, and the fact you don’t realize that when you say you care about me breaks my heart.”
No. This couldn’t be happening.
“I care. You have no idea how much I care.” His vision blurred. His heart ached. “I don’t want to lose you. I can’t.”
“Too late. You already have.” With her head held high, Ivy went to the door. “Goodbye, Nash.”
* * *
Ivy hurried from the hotel to her apartment. It wasn’tthatfar, but she didn’t want to chance running into anyone if she stopped at the pub to get her car. She would pick it up later.
She’d thought her dreams would finally come true. That she and Nash could sing and be together. But that wasn’t happening.
Now or ever.
The title “Broken Dreams” had never seemed more appropriate. Or would that be ironic?
How about pathetic?
She should have known better. Her dreams hadn’t come true ten years ago. Why had she thought it would be different this time?
Somehow her dreams and Nash had become linked, then and now. She didn’t even want to think about Peyton Rush’s unknowing role in this.
Ivy’s siblings had told her this wouldn’t end well, yet she hadn’t believed them. She’d trusted Nash, given him her songs and her heart. Hoped for the best, but she’d admitted to herself he might break her heart. She just hadn’t expected it would be in this way or so soon.
Nash wanted her, but the thought of seeing him in secret made her feel less, not good enough. He and the trolls on the internet had made her feel that way before. Never again.
That was why she’d stood up for herself. Something she should have done during the audition ten years ago, but she hadn’t been strong enough. Today she was. That made her proud despite her broken heart.
When she stepped inside her apartment, Pearl greeted her. Ivy swept the cat into her arms, buried her face against the soft, gray fur, and cried.
* * *
An hour later, Nash trudged to the physical therapy office. Imagining the hurt expression on Ivy’s face clawed at his heart. He recognized the same devastation from her audition video.
But what could he do?
She didn’t want him.
R.J. had said that if Ivy cared about Nash, she would accept his needing to date Peyton to save his career. He could reinvent himself as a loving, devoted boyfriend to one of the most famous music stars of their time.
Reinventing himself wasn’t Nash’s first choice, but what could he do except agree because his contract was up? And as R.J. continually reminded Nash, the label was antsy.
