Page 106 of Fake it With Me

My mind was racing. “When did she tell you this?”

“About a week ago. The same day she asked to be removed from our active roster. Said she wasn’t interested in taking on any more assignments.”

“She’s not taking the San Francisco job?”

“No. She was quite clear that she was done with Faux entirely. One fake relationship was enough to last a lifetime, I believe were her exact words.” Della paused. “Mr. Sullivan, I don’t usually get involved in my clients’ personal lives, but I have to say, Liza was genuinely upset when we last spoke. Whatever happened between you two, it wasn’t about the money. That girl was heartbroken.”

I felt like I had been punched in the gut. “She really turned down the payment?”

“And the San Francisco job. And every other opportunity I’ve presented to her.”

“I see. Keep the money for now, please. I would like Liza to get the payment. I’ll try reaching out to her and make it clear she knows she earned it.”

“I’ll hold it for another week. Good luck.”

After I hung up with Della, I just stood there, phone in hand, feeling like the world’s biggest idiot. She had refused the money. And turned down the San Francisco job.

She had quit Faux entirely.

Everything I had accused her of had been wrong. Completely, utterly wrong. I was a total dick. If I could kick my own ass, I would do it.

Those messages from Della hadn’t been Liza planning her exit. They’d been Della doing her job, trying to line up work for a contractor. And Liza hadn’t even responded to them because she’d been planning to stay. She was ready and willing to quit Faux and build a life with Daisie and me.

And what had I done? I’d read her private messages, jumped to conclusions, and kicked her out.

I walked to my SUV and slid into the seat. I turned on the AC and blasted it. I was hot and sweaty.

“I’m such an idiot,” I said out loud to the empty car.

It wasn’t just a job to her. It was real. It had always been real. And I’d thrown it all away because I’d been too scared to trust it. Too afraid of being hurt again to believe that someone could actually love me that completely.

I pulled out my phone and opened my contacts, finding Liza’s name. My thumb hovered over the call button.

What would I even say? Sorry I accused you of lying? Sorry I didn’t trust you? Sorry I was too damaged by my ex-wife to believe that you could actually love me?

All of it was true, but would it be enough?

And what if she didn’t want to hear it? What if she had spent the last week moving on and deciding I wasn’t worth the trouble. I had hurt her. Badly. I’d seen the devastation on her face that morning in the boathouse. I heard it in her voice. We were both hurting. And I only had myself to blame.

Why would she want to come back after that?

But I had to try.

Daisie deserved to have Liza back in her life. And I needed her back.

I pressed the call button before I could talk myself out of it. The phone rang once. Twice. Three times.

Then it went to voicemail. Her voice sounded happy and carefree. It made my heart squeeze. “Hi, you’ve reached Liza. Leave a message and I’ll get back to you!”

The beep sounded, and I realized I had no idea what to say.

“Liza, it’s Darek. I—” I stopped, took a breath. “I’m an idiot. A complete idiot. Della called and told me you refused the payment, that you quit Faux. You weren’t planning to leave. You weren’t treating this like just another contract. It was real for you, and I was too stupid and scared to see it.”

I paused, trying to organize my thoughts.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for reading your messages. I was scared of getting hurt again and I ended up hurting both of us instead. You and Daisie. She misses you so much. She barely eats, barely talks. She’s heartbroken. And it’s my fault.”

My voice cracked slightly.