She had to. Right?
The looks, the touches, the way her face softened at me. I couldn’t be imagining it. It had to be two-way. Or I’d force her.Makeher understand. I couldn’t walk away.
The bed was too cold next to me and I opened my eyes. I spied her by the door, half-crouched over.Why is she on the floor?
She must’ve forgotten something in the damn car. Or had an errant thought she had to write down. She could be odd at times, and I loved that.
“Get your gorgeous ass back in this bed.” I pushed up onto my elbows and admired the view. Her plump ass was facing me. And my brain had already thought of a bunch of things to do with it…but she didn’t turn to face me No. She remained frozen in place, not making a sound. She didn’t remain quiet unless something was wrong. And a tiny, very present bubble of anxiety appeared in my chest.
I sat straight up. “Greta, what’re you doing?”
She spoke slowly, in an almost inaudible whisper. In those next few seconds, my blood turned to ice. Like someone had doused me in cold water. “I need— I should go.”
“Why?”She must have something early.Tutoring. Work. Homework. Anything.“I’d prefer you stay in bed with me. But if you need to leave, I can drive you if you give me a second.” I stretched, the meaning of her words not hitting me quite yet. “What time is it?”
“Don’t drive me, Aaron.”
Now she had my attention. All of it. I swung my legs out of bed. “Wait—why?”
She sighed, her back still as stiff as a headboard. She turned to face me with an expression I had never seen before. She had a look of revulsion. As if speaking to me was the last thing she wanted to do.
My stomach churned, the beers from the night before on the verge of coming up.This can’t be happening.“Last night was pretty amazing. But let’s call this for what it is—a sham. It was part of the plan for you.”
“But—”
“No.” The aggression in that word stopped me. Her coffee-colored eyes stared into me, but they were blank. Empty. Just like my heart felt. “Aaron, I can’t continue the next couple weeks. We would’ve staged a break-up, big or small, I don’t know. But the charity event was the final thing for your image. We both know it.”
“Wait…what?” My sleepy brain didn’t compute her words. Or their meaning. It wasn’t possible. I had plans. Plans to tell her. Keep her. Be with her.
“This is done, Aaron. I can’t do a fake relationship anymore.” Her usual warm gaze was long gone. There was no heat behind her eyes. Sadness, sure, but…a determination I knew well. I had just never borne the brunt of it. She clutched her neck with her free hand. “Last night was my final act.”
Spiraling, my heart stumbled over itself trying to find words, but none came. I just stared at her. Her mouth moved, but I didn’t hear it. “Did you hear me? I met someone else.”
She bit her goddamn lip and avoided my gaze.
Act.
Someone else.
This is done.
A sham.
Done.
“Are you fuckingkiddingme?” Anger, so ripe and so raw, ripped through me. It hurt, unlike anything I had ever felt. Like someone had poisoned my blood.
“No.” Her luscious bottom lip trembled. The same one I had sucked and licked hours earlier. “I’m s-sorry.”
“I— Who the fuck…? You’re seeing someone else? You’resorry?” Each syllable took effort, like cotton balls had forced themselves down my throat, making speech almost impossible. “Who?”
“The tattoo artist.” She avoided my eyes, backing toward the door.
“Tony? Fucking Tony?” I stood, bare-ass naked but not giving a shit. I was beyond mad. “You slept with me, did all last night with me and you’re…you’re seeing another guy? What thefuck, Greta? No.”
“I didn’t cheat on thisfakerelationship. I would never hurt your future, if that’s what you’re worried about. Your image is fine. But I’m interested in him. I want to explore it. And I can’t with you.”
I had no words. They’d left. All of them.
