Page 136 of Arrogant Bastard
I shake my head. “Goodbye, Meredith. I wish you nothing but the best.”
She nods. “Take care, Caden.”
The door closes, and I turn to leave. I did the best I could. And I realize now, that’s all anyone can do. I haven’t met my side of the bargain for a long time, but I’m taking steps to rectify that.
It might not be enough, but I hope one day it will be.
25
Cat
It’s worse than I thought.
Much worse.
I want to escape this meeting—the first one we’ve had since my disastrous love affair ended—but I stay glued to my seat. I promised Wyatt, Gwen, and Jackson that this wouldn’t affect my working relationship with Caden, and I have a point to prove. So as much as I want to get the hell out of here, I grit my teeth and bear it.
Caden is across from me, going over the production schedule in his honeyed voice, and with every word, my chest grows heavier. He seems…fine.
A part of me knows that’s a lie, that it’s something I’m telling myself to ease the sadness, but he looks so much better than I feel. The cords of his arms flex as he moves from one page to the next, and I remember how his arms held me tight.
How safe it was, cocooned in his embrace.
My gaze drifts to his hands, the veins that line their backs like an intricate map. Strong and sure and capable. My stomach dips, and my skin heats as I remember what his long, talented fingers could do to me.
I jerk my attention away, only to catch his eyes.
He stumbles, his sentence trailing off.
He shakes his head. “Um…”
I look away, glancing at the clock. Before anyone can say anything, I scoot my chair back. “I have a tour I need to get ready for.”
It’s not a lie—I do. Only I have plenty of time. But I can’t sit here one more minute. I stand. “I don’t think you need me for the rest.”
Everyone is frowning and shifting in their seats, uncomfortable.
It’s suffocating. I need to get out. I grab my stuff and turn, calling out, “Have a good one.”
I scramble out of the conference room, slamming the door behind me with more force than necessary. I lean against the wall, close my eyes, and exhale.
Finally I can breathe.
It’s got to get better. It has to.
I just need to make it over the hump.
The door opens, and I start, springing from my position. I want to run, but I force myself into a slow walk. I can do this.
Don’t look back.
Don’t see if it’s him.
Keep walking.
I can do this.
It’s what I want.
