He backed away, exhaling through his nose, his jaw clenching.
“Don’t fight me, Hope. I can’t think straight knowing you’re staying here, and I won’t sleep tonight.”
“Oh, poor baby,” I mocked, and his eyes flared again.
“Oh, so we’re doing this here? You’re really going to fight me right now?”
“I didn’t want to, but you showed up here when I told you not to. And because you’re insufferable as ever, yes, why not? Let’s do this here, Jay.”
“Oh, so it’s back to Jay now? Not Dr. Jay?”
The fire in my chest was oddly satisfying. I’d been able to sit and think about what happened over the last three months. And honestly, yeah—I kind of did want to fight. It felt good to yell at him.
“Yes, it’s back to Jay. Because this is personal. Youbetrayed my trust. You didn’t tell me you knew my dad, and you should’ve told me he was the reason you gave me the job.”
“That day I ran into you, Hope, was a complete accident. He called me the next day! So the moment you and I met had nothing to do with him. After he called me, I didn’t want to tell you right away that I was connected to him, because I wanted to get to know you first before dropping the information about knowing your dad. He said you’d be prickly about it, and so I thought I’d wait for the right moment.”
“You were worried I’d be prickly? That’s why you didn’t want to tell me?” My hand literally fisted at my side, trying not to reach up and smack him.
“Well, is it a lie? You literally ran from me when you found out I was a dentist. I could only assume what would happen if I told you I knew your dad. And I didn’t want you to run again.”
I let out an angry huff. I was sure I must look like a steaming tomato.
“You are seriously going to claim that the whole reason you did this was just to keep me around because you were scared to lose me? You barely knew who I was when we first met! The connection couldn’t be that strong.”
He let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “I’m pretty certain I fell in love with you the moment I saw you,Amapolita.So yes, after one conversation with you, I knew you were who I wanted.”
“Now you’re just being dramatic.” I rolled my eyes, but my heart was skipping beats. “Who even says that? Loved me from the moment you saw me?”
“Fine. Call me dramatic. Insufferable. Insane. Honestly, I don’t really care.” He took a step toward me again. “Iwanted to get to know you. I didn’t want your stupid father to get in the way, so yes, I kept it from you. But I genuinely was interested and wanted to help you. And not just because he called me. I came to that conclusion on my own.”
I shook my head, taking a step back—but he continued forward. I had nowhere to go and soon found myself with my back pressed against the wall.
“What you did is something I can’t just get over,” I said, my voice lowering now.
“Fine. I’m not asking you to just get over it.” He took another step, and this time he lifted his hand, resting it above my head, pressing his palm against the motel wall. “I’m not asking for your forgiveness right now. I’m only asking you to come stay with me before I lose my mind thinking about you in this place.”
I was shivering at this point. Snow was blowing all around us, and I was only in a sweatshirt and thin flannel pajamas.
“This doesn’t mean you’ve won anything,” I said, my teeth finally chattering and giving me away.
“Oh, I know,Amor.Trust me, I know.”
We looked at one another for a few more seconds, both of us breathing a little heavier than usual after the argument.
White puffs filled the space between us, and then I finally broke the spell and spun around.
“I’m going to get my things.”
CHAPTER 59
Ishould have known I’d end up back here. I truly thought I could stay so angry at him that I’d never step foot near him again.
And Iwasangry. But I could stay angry in a warm bed, couldn’t I?
I pulled into the driveway and parked behind his truck. I stared at the cabin mansion for a long moment, an onslaught of memories from three months ago crashing over me.
A similar pang to homesickness hit my gut. But I brushed it aside. Surely I couldn’t have missed this place that much?
