The sharpness in his eyes dulled. “I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, it sucks.” I tried not to think about it too hard. Otherwise, I’d cry. She was what I’d needed these last few months. If I could have spoken to her, I was sure she would have helped me leave Enzo. Would have talked some sense into me. Slapped me if I needed it. “She got sick, and I took care of her until she died. I’m grateful for a job that allowed me the flexibility to do that. If I were stuck at a corporate job, that wouldn’t have been possible.”
He inhaled a slow breath, but I never saw him release it. “I’m sorry.” He repeated his words like he forgot he’d already said them, or he meant them even more now than he had before.
“She didn’t deserve it, but that’s how it goes. I felt so much relief when she passed away on a truckload of morphine, because for the first time in months, her little body wasn’t tense. She was just relaxed ... and she slipped away.”
He didn’t apologize again, but he listened like every single syllable of my words mattered to him.
The sadness was dispelled by the arrival of dinner. The fish had been divided onto two plates, and it smelled heavenly. I didn’t want to think about watching my mother die when I was in paradise with a man who was too good to be true. If she were here, I would have called her and told her all about it—and she would have told me to jump his bones.
We ate quietly for a while in the candlelight, just enjoying each other’s company the way we had that morning at Bam Bar. There were times when I felt so comfortable with him, but the second I realized my comfort, I took a mental step back.
Because this was just a fling. I couldn’t get too attached. I wasn’t building a future with him—only memories.
“Headed to the beach tomorrow with friends. Like to join?”
I never assumed we had another day together. Any moment could be our last. He didn’t owe me anything, and I owed him nothing in return. But it made my heart sing every time he asked. “I don’t want to intrude—”
“I wouldn’t have asked if you were an intrusion.”
My heart tightened in my chest. It’d been such a long time since I’d been wanted that I wasn’t even sure how to accept the inclusion. Enzo used to bring me around his friends ... until he stopped. And now I knew why.
He was afraid they would tell me about Luna.
And that meant they knew everything. Assholes.
Constantine studied my face across the table like he knew my mind had slipped away.
I felt guilty. Horribly guilty for the lies I’d told him. Pretending I was here with a friend when I was getting over the worst breakup in my life. When I was cheated on, dumped, and then abandoned all on the same day.
I suddenly lost my appetite even though it was the best fish I’d ever had. I set my fork down on the edge of the plate. “Um, there’s something I think you should know.” Potent shame filled me like a cloud of smoke and coated my insides with soot. “I told you I came here with a friend and she had to head back for work.” I kept my eyes on my plate because I could see his movements in the corner of my vision. See the way he gently set down his fork and rested both elbows on the table, his hands together. “Truth is ... I was here with my boyfriend. Ex-boyfriend now.”
Constantine was silent.
“He headed home. Said he’d pack up my things and I could collect them when I get back.” I had no idea where I would live. I should probably work on finding an apartment now, but I didn’t want to think about it. “I’m sorry I lied.” I took a breath and finally had the courage to look him in the eye.
His expression was the same as it’d been before. He gave me nothing.
“I—I just didn’t think I was going to see you after we met in the bar. I assumed it would be a onetime thing, so I made something up so I wouldn’t have to talk about it. But now ... I don’t know. I feel like you should know.” He might judge me. Think less of me. Assume he was a rebound and not want to see me anymore. Whatever his reactionmight be, it wouldn’t be good. It wasn’t exactly sexy to be with a woman who just got dumped.
After a long stretch of silence, he spoke. “I already knew.”
“You—you did?”
“I always know when someone’s lying.”
It almost felt like a threat. It made me swallow hard and made me feel really fucking stupid.
“I don’t tolerate liars and cheats. But you’re right. Neither of us knew we’d be sitting here right now. I was a stranger to you at the time. I can tell you’re carrying some stuff right now, and the last thing you wanted to do was drop your baggage on someone you don’t know.” He gave a slight nod. “So, don’t worry about it.”
I felt pardoned and executed at the same time. I wasn’t sure how to follow that. “So ... the beach invitation still stands?”
“Why wouldn’t it?” He grabbed his fork again, sliced it into the tender fillet, and took a bite. He’d already eaten half of his plate, because he always seemed to inhale his food when he ate. When we’d split that sandwich, one of his bites was the equivalent to five of mine.
“I don’t know. Doesn’t make me look very good.”
“How so?”
