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His front curtains parted a fraction before fluttering shut. When had he even put those curtains up?
She knocked again.
He was in there. He’d seen her. And he was ignoring her.
“As much as I can appreciate this ironic role reversal, you need to open the door, Bradley.”
At last, he did, muttering a meek apology. “Sorry. Was just getting out of the shower is all.”
“Is that all?”
He shifted his stance. His hair was notably dry.
“You didn’t reply to my message.”
Silence.
“You’re still planning to help me perform the counter-spell, aren’t you?” she asked more steadily than she felt.
“I…”
“You’re coming, right?”
He dropped his gaze.
“You’re not coming.” Even though she’d guessed the answer well enough to bother asking the question, the truth still struck her like a blow from behind. “You’re not coming. I know you probably have plans, but couldn’t you spare an hour? Just one? Is something wrong? Did I do something wrong?”
“This isn’t about you. I promise. It’s about me. My issues.”
“It’s not you, it’s me?” She laughed without humour. “Are you breaking up with me?”
As soon as she said it, she wished she could take the question back, spend one more minute in a wonderful world where Devra Harrison belonged with Bradley Mann.
“I’m sorry,” he breathed out.
She stepped backward. “You’re sorry.”
“So sorry.” His words felt misty, insubstantial. “I’ve lost focus of my recovery. That has to be my number one priority right now. I’m not ready for whatever this…this thing between us is.”
“This thing between us?”
Of all the words he’d said, this one hurt the most. Because it was obvious to her what this thing between them was.
It was love. Wasn’t it?
“I’m sorry, Devra. I wasn’t thinking. I haven’t been thinking clearly at all these past few weeks. I’ve just been reacting. I dove in without fully considering the consequences.”
Devra flinched. Not love. What she’d thought had been him falling in love had apparently only been an impulse. Because he was a man who spoke first and laughed it off after. A man quick to act. A man quick to lose.
“I know this isn’t fair to you,” he continued. “I know. And I feel awful. But I’m backsliding into old habits, which isn’t good for me. It could ruin the progress I’ve been making. I…I almost got fired yesterday.”
“You did?”
He nodded. “And that may not seem like a big deal to you, but it is to me, because I’ve never been able to stick something out. Never been able to make something last.”
“Then stick this out.” Her voice cracked. “Make this last.”
He squeezed his eyes shut, an ensemble of creases marring his handsome face. For an instant, she thought she had him, that the real Bradley was about to return to her. That he would snap out of this strange, anxious persona and return to being the unwaveringly optimistic man she’d been falling in love with, always quick with a smile and a reassuring comment. But he only wilted further.
