I bit my trembling lip and sniffed. “Don’t say that, it makes this so much harder.”
“If you love him, and he loves you, why the fuck is it difficult?”
“Because it just is…” I swiped at my wet eyes. Ignoring the waitress who came back with our drinks, I jerked to my feet. “I have to go—”
“Traffic is fucking shitty, as usual,” Max muttered, putting his hand on my shoulder and gently but firmly pushing me back into my seat. He took the chair adjacent to mine. I glared at War.
He shrugged. “Jack called, looking for you. Said you were somewhere on this street. I tracked you here. Talk to him, Ray.”
Max nodded, his expression hard. “I’d ask what happened, but I know you, Ray. You always were too independent, tackling your problems on your own, never asking for help. Whatever it is, you need to work it out with Jack.”
I barely heard him, staring at Max in shock.Jack had them searching for me?How did…? Crap! The location-sharing app! Which meant, he was close. “No—” I leaped up.
“Too late. He’s here.” War nodded to the front.
My gaze snapped to the entrance. And there he was.
No, no, I wasn’t ready for this.
But at the hard set of Jack’s features, and the fury in his light eyes, I knew running wouldn’t work. He would just hunt me down.
The two fiends finally let me go. Then Jack was in front of me. Even with the dim lights, the barely controlled rage in his eyes garroted me. He grasped my wrist and dragged me outside, passing several bikes parked there. There was nothing I could do, not with his ironclad grip. “Jack—”
He spun to me so fast, I hastily stepped back, my spine hitting the shopfront behind me. “You need space—space?” He slammed his cell phone at my chest. His mercurial silver eyes were ravaged with fury and pain as they pinned me in place. “Are you breaking up with me, Ray? Is that what the fucking text’s about?”
With no idea what to say, I shook my head. “Give me some time, please—”
“How much, Ray? An hour, a week, fucking forever?”
“I’m sorry—”
“You’resorry? How the hell do you think I feel when you won’t answer your cell for goddamn hours, then youtextme you needspace!”
He was so angry. I knew then if I told him the truth, he’d go after his grandmother. It would be disastrous. That cold witch would do as she promised. Terrifying images rolled through my mind. The salacious society page headlines, my parents crushed, Mom having another stroke. And Jack? He’d hate me, thinking I’d sold myself…
Trying to keep back a whimper of pain, I bit my lip hard, and tasted blood.
Jack suddenly went dead-still, his gaze trapping mine. “Did my grandmother confront you?”
Oh, God! Dread escalating at what could happen if he learned the truth, I snapped, “Why would she? She can’t stand me. All I asked for was some space—”
“I give you that! Hell, I’m barely home with the long hours I put in at the office! So, how the fuck do you need more?” His furious gaze slid down me and back up as if taking in my appearance. Then his eyes slowly narrowed. “You had lunch with your sister at Moretti’s… What the fuck did Margo say?”
He knew. I wrapped my arms around my waist, struggling not to blurt out the horror trapped inside me. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah?” He leaned in close, our noses almost touching. “Don’t feed me that bullshit, I know she got to you. What the hell did she say?”
Breathing in his scent, and with his warmth enfolding me, my composure cracked. “Nothing!” I yelled. “I just want some space, but you won’t give me any. You simply take over, and I feel like I can’t breathe—”
He reared back as if I’d slapped him.
No, no, no!Oh, God, that wasn’t what I’d meant to say. Agony darkened those striking eyes, and I felt as if I’d staked my own heart.
“Jack—” I reached out.
He stepped back. “I never was good enough for you, was I?” The words appeared dragged from him. He lowered his head and pressed his fingers over his eyes. “I wasn’t good enough to meet your folks either. I forced you into that, too, by just turning up. I’ve given you everything of myself, something I’ve never done with another. But I can’t fight for us every step of the way when you won’t even try.” His chest heaved, and his dull gaze lifted to mine. “Do—did you love me, Ray? Even a little?”
I do. So much!A sob caught in my throat.
