“So naturally you ask me to move in with you. You realize that makes no sense at all.”
“What makes no sense is you saying you have to think about it when it’s pretty damn obvious you’re going to say no. So I’ll save you the trouble. Forget it. Sorry I mentioned it.”
“You can’t spring something like this on me out of the blue and expect me to answer you immediately.”
“Obviously not. Like I said, forget it.”
She rose, picked up her jacket and put it on. “I’m going home before I say something I’ll regret.”
“Hey, feel free.”
She gave him a dirty look and walked out the door.
That went well.
*
Sierra and Connordidn’t see each other until they both worked a shift. It was absolutely the most uncomfortable work day Sierra thought she’d ever had. She and Connor had two pickups and didn’t say a word that wasn’t related to the cases for the entire day. On top of that she’d had a shitty night’s sleep so she felt crappy too. She was still mad at Connor. Not because he’d asked her to move in with him but because he’d been such a jerk when she hadn’t immediately said yes.
Damn it, she wasn’t ready. She cared about Connor but part of her simply wasn’t able to make that commitment right now. Why couldn’t he understand that? Why was that such a terrible thing to say?
She’d thought she and Phil were forever. It was both a shock and a huge hurt when she’d found out he’d cheated, and what’s more, he wanted a divorce.
Sierra didn’t trust Phil and she never would again. And a marriage without trust wasn’t a marriage at all. Now he had the nerve to come to Marietta and tell her he’d made a ‘mistake’ and he and his bimbo had broken up. And guess what, he seemed to think if he was nice—like he used to be—that she’d just forgive and forget.
Screw that.
Of course, none of that solved her issues with Connor. She’d thought she didn’t want a serious relationship but maybe she was just scared. It wouldn’t be surprising. What she’d been through made it hard to trust another man. Yet when she thought about losing Connor…God, she didn’t even want to think about how that made her feel. She’d been falling for him almost from the first time they met. Certainly after she’d met him again in Marietta.
It wasn’t late so she called Sam to see if she could talk. Sam was about to leave the hospital but said she’d stop by before she drove home.
Sierra opened the door to her a short while later. Sam had on her scrubs and running shoes and looked whipped. “Thanks for coming over. Can I get you a drink or something to eat?”
“Water. Thanks. I’m parched.” She sat on the couch and toed off her shoes. “My feet are killing me. I’ve been operating all day.” She drank half the glass of water Sierra gave her, set it down, and asked, “What’s going on?”
Sierra threw herself into the chair beside the couch. “I’m in trouble.”
“I’m going to need more than that,” Sam said when she didn’t continue.
“I think I’ve fallen in love with Connor.”
“But you’re not sure?”
“It’s not so much that as I’m not ready. I like him a lot. I want to be with him. But love?” She shook her head. “It scares me.”
“Is he in love with you?”
“He says he is.”
“I’m not seeing the problem.”
“Connor wants more of a commitment than I’m ready to give right now. And then there’s Phil. He isn’t going away.”
“Do you think he’s planning on staying for much longer? I mean, how can he with his job?”
“His vacation is for two weeks, and it’s been nearly that. So unless he asks for more time off he should be gone soon.”
“Do you think he’ll do that? Ask for more time, I mean?”
