Shit.
He could see he’d hurt her. He just didn’t know what to do about it.
Say something, stupid, but not something stupid!
He wanted her to understand that she meant more to him than any woman ever had, but he couldn’t put the words together fast enough. So he got out of bed, grabbed his clothes, and dressed. When he looked over at her again, she was wearing her bathrobe, her arms crossed over her chest as if to protect herself.
His stomach knotted.
Goddamn it.This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. She didn’t need to protect herself fromhim.
Say something, man.
“The answer is no.” He turned to go.
“What?”
“You asked if I think of you as just a hookup. The answer is no.”
Not knowing what else he could say, he did what he didn’t want to do. He left her alone and drove home.
* * *
When Vic’salarm went off at five, it felt like a slap in the face.
No freaking way.
She fumbled in the dark for her phone to turn off the awful sound, hoping she’d set it wrong. But it reallywastime to get up.
She dragged herself to the bathroom, flicked on the light, and studied her reflection in the mirror. She looked like she’d stayed up too late and had cried herself to sleep, which is exactly what she’d done. Perfect. Because what Lexi needed today was a maid of honor who looked like hell.
“It’s your own fault,” she said to the woman in the mirror.
The woman said nothing, but walked toward the shower.
Vic turned the water on as hot as she could stand, stepped into the spray, and reached for her shampoo, a memory of sharing this shower with Eric nudging its way into her mind, making the space feel empty.
He hadn’t said anything out of line last night. He’d told it the way it was. They’d both known from the beginning that she would be leaving tomorrow. They’d both known nothing could come of this, and they’d made the most of the time they had together—until she’d gone all emo on him last night.
What had she expected him to say? Had she imagined he’d profess his undying love? Maybe beg her to stay in Scarlet?
Okay, maybe some part of her had wanted that.
Now, she had only one night left in Colorado, one night left with him, and he probably wouldn’t want to spend it with her for fear that she’d get emotional and ruin things just like she’d done last night.
She rinsed her hair, slathered on conditioner, then scrubbed her skin and shaved her legs, last night replaying in her mind again and again. Feeling him pound into her up against the wall. Stealing food from the kitchen. Asking him to leave.
Eric was the most amazing man she’d ever known. He was caring and courageous. He loved his mother and his friends, and it showed. No, he wasn’t romantic in a hearts and flowers way, but when he looked at her, when he kissed her, when he was inside her, he made her feel like she was the only woman on earth. And she’d sent him away for being honest with her.
Apologize to him.
Yes, she would apologize. She would find time, maybe before the ceremony, to tell him she was sorry. Hopefully, he would forgive her, and they could enjoy one last night together.
And if he doesn’t want to spend tonight with you?
The thought put a pang in her chest.
She needed to set all of this aside and focus on Lexi. Today was Lexi’s big day, one of the most important days of her life, and Vic would not spend it feeling sorry for herself or pouting over a man—not even Eric.