“That’s it? You’re just leaving?” I call out, not caring that it’s late and my neighbors will hear me.
She doesn’t look back but says, “I need time to think. I’ll talk to you.”
“Think about what? Us?” This was a goddamn misunderstanding; I don’t understand why she can’t stay and talk about this like an adult. Not even that, I want to hold and comfort her because although she’s furious with me, I don’t miss her hurt and pain radiating off her.
“Everything. I need to think about everything,” she says, low enough that I almost miss it, then gets in the car without looking back.
My heart plummets to my stomach the second she closes that door. Why does it feel like she’s closing it on us… on our relationship?
Night one.
Her words play on repeat in my head, her fury and pain of her emotions flashing before my eyes. All her worries and insecurities unfolded the first night we were back in London.
Belle’s right. How did I let this happen, and how did it spiral so quickly that I couldn’t hold on and stop the impending catastrophe?
From such a minor mix-up.
This is precisely what I didn’t want to happen, I continuously promised her my past couldn’t touch her, yet I lied.
Night one.
Night fucking one.
Belle is my life, my love, the one I will protect with every inch of my being, so if she needs time to think, to collect her feelings,fine.
But I won’t let her leave me, leave us. I told her I was all in, and I don’t take that lightly.
* * *
Declan stops abruptly at my office door, his face twisting with confusion. “What are you doing here?”
“I work here, fucker. What do you think?” I mutter, annoyed I’m being interrupted as I review a new contract before sending it off to legal.
“I was sure you would’ve followed Belle to Italy. You’re almost worse than Wills lately.”
Lola was kind enough to let me know when Belle landed safely in Italy late last night, but I haven’t heard one word from her. “Nope, I’m stuck here in gloomy London with you.”
He crosses his tattooed arms. “What did you do?”
I shake my head, annoyed at the whole situation. “I don’t want to talk about it right now.”
Belle had every right to be furious last night, but that doesn’t make it right for her to run out on me like that. After sharing so much in France, you would have thought she’d be more open to telling me what was happening in her head, or at least let me explain why Anna showed up.
Am I sorry she felt betrayed and humiliated even? Of course.
Am I also pissed off that she ran?
Without a doubt.
The buzzer on my phone goes off, bringing me back to reality. “Hi, Millie, what’s up?”
“Wills is asking to see you and Declan.”
“Sure, we’ll head over there now,” I reply, then look up at Dec. “Why is he in today? Isn’t he leaving for their trip soon?”
“Aye, I thought so too. Let’s find out what he wants.”
“You look good,” I say to Wills as we enter his corner office. “Relaxed, like you’ve already checked out.”
