Their time together had been wonderful. More than wonderful. She’d loved every second of it, and the day they’d just spent together, and the night spent in bed, were unforgettable.
But now it was over. The awkward and temper-filled exchange they’d just had was proof of that.
“I’m sorry I have to go,” she said and meant it. “I’ve loved being with you again, Peter. I’m glad we had this time together.”
Those words sounded more final than she’d intended. Peter blinked and dropped his gaze and she saw the pain in his eyes as he turned away.
“I’d offer to drive you back to your aunt’s house, but I drank too much wine earlier to risk it,” he said and picked up his phone. “I’ll call you a taxi, if that’s okay?”
“Thanks.”
By the time she’d pulled on her shoes and freshened up in the bathroom, the taxi had arrived. She’d barely had time to look around inside Peter’s flat, which was smart and simply decorated and obviously the home of a single man. The fact she was leaving after such a brief visit and without even familiarising herself with his home after sharing his bed felt suddenly very wrong.
But it was too late now. She said she was going and the taxi was waiting.
Peter walked her downstairs to the main entrance of the small apartment building and out to where the taxi waited on the road.
“Can we see each other again before you leave on Monday?” Peter asked.
“I, uh, I think I’ll be busy with my aunt tomorrow after I work the hotel shift,” she said. After their fraught conversation in his bedroom, maybe it was best just to say goodbye right now. “I’d like to spend my last evening here with her. I’m sure you understand.”
“Of course, that makes perfect sense,” he said and gave a smile that was obviously forced. “So, I guess this is goodbye.”
It hurt far more to hear him say that than it should have. She was the one who wanted this to be over.
“I’ve loved seeing you again, Peter. I really mean that. And tonight was very special.”
“It really was.”
He held her gaze, his eyes fathomless depths she wished she could fall into it. To put an end to the madness, she stepped closer and kissed him.
The kiss was soft and chaste, an unmistakable kiss goodbye.
“Goodbye, Peter.”
“Goodbye, Gaby.” He took her hand and squeezed it before lifting it to his lips and pressing a kiss against her fingers, making her heart flip-flop all over again. “You have my number. Promise to keep in touch?”
“I promise.”
Before her resolve crumbled completely, she gave him a bright smile and climbed into the taxi. Peter waved as it pulled away and she waved back and somehow kept the smile on her face as he disappeared from view and the taxi sped away.
Her heart clenched all the way home as she fought against the tears that threatened to overwhelm her.
You wanted to leave. You had to leave. There’s no other choice.
“It’s for the best,” she murmured to herself as the taxi whisked her off into the darkness.
23
When Gaby’salarm went off the next morning, she shut it off with a groan. She’d spent most of the night tossing and turning and hadn’t drifted off until almost four o’clock.
While lying awake, she’d thought endlessly about Peter and the day they’d spent together and how it had ended in his bed with her wrapped up in his arms. Every moment had been amazing until she’d told him she had to leave and things had become strained and awkward. She hated the way they’d said goodbye and playing those final minutes over and over inside her head was what kept her awake.
What sleep she did get was filled with troubled dreams that left her feeling anxious and irritated.
For all the rest she’d had, she might as well have spent the entire night with Peter, she thought with a wry shake of her head as she climbed out of bed.
Yes, because spending the entire night in his arms would’ve made this morning so much easier to deal with.
