Page 133 of Getting Down to Business

“It was nothing. No big deal. Just forget it.” She put his plate in front of him. “Oh that’s right, you already did.” She was trying to be funny, but neither one of them laughed.

“If you don’t want to talk about last night, fine. But we need to talk about something else.”

“So talk,” she said holding up her fork in annoyance.

The way she refused to take any of it seriously was beginning to piss him off. He was a human being with feelings. Didn’t anything get through her walls?

“I’m moving to San Diego in two weeks. You’ll need to find a new roommate if you want to keep the apartment. I can spot you for a few months.”

He regretted spitting it out like that because obviously, he had finally made those impenetrable walls shake. She had that same sick look he had a moment ago when he realized what had happened between them. Only this time it was much, much worse.

“I’m sorry. I should have given you more notice, but we haven’t had a chance to talk much lately, and I…” Don’t want to leave you, he finished in his head.

“I need to go meet Mia,” she said as she pushed her uneaten breakfast aside. “I’m late.” Only then did Grayson notice she had changed into real clothes instead of just his T-shirt.

“I tell you I’m moving across the country and you’ve got to go?” He couldn’t believe she would be this cold.

“What do you want me to do? Mia and I have plans to go to Connecticut to see the new baby. And I’ve got two weeks to find a roommate or a place I can afford on my own. What else do we need to talk about?”

“I told you I would help for a few—”

“I don’t need your help. The last thing I need is anything from you.” Her voice shook with real emotion as she snatched up her phone from the counter and headed for the door.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” he asked himself out loud when she was gone.

* * * *

“Leaving?” Alyssa said to no one as she waited for the elevator. “He’s just leaving? He tells me he loves me, begs me to love him back, and once I do he says he’s leaving?” She couldn’t believe her life at the moment.

When she’d gotten out of his bed that morning, everything seemed perfect. How could it end up in such a mess so quickly? This could only happen to her.

Her visit with Kenley and the new baby was torture. It was nearly impossible to keep a smile on her face all afternoon. Kenley didn’t buy it either. She’d asked once already, but Alyssa just shook her head and smiled wider. She wouldn’t let her heartbreak interfere with Kenley’s happiness.

Being with the happy family forced Alyssa to face the future that waited for her in New York. She was alone and had no one to blame but herself. Kenley had a family. Mia was leaving for Philadelphia soon. And Gray…

“What’s going on with you?” Kenley asked when they were alone. “Don’t say you’re fine or I’ll start talking about how I cry with joy every time I’m breastfeeding.”

Alyssa sniffed and shook her head.

“I’ve been overly emotional myself, and I can’t even blame it on hormones.”

“The guy? Grayson?” she guessed. Liss nodded and pressed her lips together, feeling the tightening in her throat.

“I told him I loved him. Can you believe that?” She let out a snort of disbelief. “I wasn’t even drunk. I meant it.”

“He doesn’t feel the same way?” Kenley asked.

“It doesn’t matter. He’s moving away.”

“Last time I checked, there wasn’t anything keeping you here. Take it from me, sometimes starting over somewhere you didn’t expect to be is a great thing.”

“I’m not cut out for this kind of life. I should have known better. I don’t deserve it.”

Kenley sucked in a breath, her eyes wide.

Alyssa hadn’t meant to say that. She didn’t want to have to explain.

“What does that mean? Of course you deserve to be happy.”