Page 109 of Seven Summers Ago
“Nothing has changed.”
“I’m here, aren’t I? That’s what’s changed.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“You’re sorry?” he sneers. “Give me a break, Rosie. I dropped everything and came here to see you and Charlie.” He lets the towel at his waist fall to the floor, but I look away while he puts on his briefs and pants.
“I didn’t ask you to do that. In fact, I’m certain I asked you not to.”
“Let’s just make the best of the evening.” He takes my hand in his, tugging me toward the bedroom door. “If you still want me to go, I’ll leave tomorrow.”
“West, no.Weston.” I raise my voice and freeze, my feet halting. “You’re not listening to me. You never listen to me.” I yank free from his grasp, and he furrows his brow.
“You’re serious?”
I swallow the lump in my throat and dip my chin.
He stares at me for a long moment. “Oh shit.” A low audible exhale releases from his mouth as his chest deflates. “This is really over.” He presses his thumb and fingers into his temples.
My heart balloons in my chest before splitting completely while I study the expression marring his face. Agony overtakes my body, and my legs fill with lead. “I’m so sorry.”
“Is it him? Charlie’s father?”
My head swims. It’s as if he didn’t hear anything I said to him back in Seattle. “What? No.”
“C’mon, Rosie. That’s bullshit. You at least owe me the truth.” He moves his hands to his hips.
“I didn’t break off things with you because of Beck.” I don’t even believe the words that just escaped me. “But I do still love him. The truth is, I never stopped loving him.”
“Wow.” He releases a whistle and shoots his attention to the wood flooring before glancing back up. “What was all this?” He gestures in the air. “Between us? Some kind of game to you? See if the rich guy would actually fall for the poor single mom?”
“What? No. You know I’m not like that. I loved you.”
“Ha,” he barks. “Loved. So quickly you’ve resorted to past tense. So easily.”
“This is anything but easy. I planned a life with you. With us. And now, I have to start over. So ‘easy’ isn’t in the vicinity.”
“But this is your choice. I don’t get a say here. Do you realize how unfair this is?”
The tears build in my chest. “I do. I’m so sorry.”
“You’re sorry,” he huffs out. “You just fucked up my life and you’re sorry. Whatever.” He folds the top of his suitcase and zips it closed. Lifting his gaze, he locks eyes with me. “Was any of it real?”
“It was. All of it.”
His lips pull up to one corner. “For whatever it’s worth, I would’ve taken care of you. And Charlie.”
“I know.”
“I’ll have Piper pack your shit. Just the thought of seeing it at my place makes me sick.”
I deserve that. I probably deserve him tossing it all out. But he’s a good guy. That’s not in his nature.
“I’m going to say goodbye to Charlie. Then that’s it, Rosie. Don’t ever call me.”
Shuffling past me with his suitcase, he doesn’t look back. It’s just as well. He’s right. I blew up his life. Beck’s life. And mine in the process.
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