Page 73 of When Forever Falls Apart

“It’s nice to meet you. Do you know where he is?” Nicole asks, her eyes scanning the café.

I shake my head, doing my best to remain calm and ignore the heat rising in my cheeks. “I don’t, but he’s due here any minute if you’d like to wait.”

Nicole exhales softly, her fingers fidgeting with the gold rings adorning them, each twist echoing her anxious energy. “He has no idea I’m here,” she rushes out, her nerves getting the better of her.

“Excuse me for being forward,” I say, keeping my tone stable to get the so-called tea. “But I didn’t realize Elliot had a girlfriend.”

“It’s complicated,” she replies simply.

“I bet,” I mutter with irritation. “The more in love you are, the more tangled it becomes.”

“I do love him,” she confesses, her eyes baring her emotions to me, a complete stranger. “It’s why I traveled all the way from Paris. What we had, it’s worth fighting for. I know he still loves me.”

I nod with a downward gaze, rapidly swallowing while trying to make sense of how Elliot could lie to me. It servesme right for thinking he wasdifferentfrom all the other men I’ve been with.

And that flicker of hope, the way our eyes locked every time he was inside me, makes this feel so much worse.

“Like I said, I’m sure he’ll be here—”

The door swings open, catching my attention. Elliot steps in, a wide grin illuminating his face. He’s casually dressed in a pair of jeans and a tee, looking so devastatingly handsome for someone who has been lying to me. I break his gaze, and with confusion in his face, he scans the café until his eyes land on Nicole.

The warmth radiating from him instantly fades. Elliot freezes on the spot, almost as if he’s seen a ghost.

Or in this case, hisgirlfriend, whom he has cheated on.

“Speak of the devil,” I mumble as he walks over to us with a look of dread.

“Elliot,” Nicole breathes, her face softening upon seeing him.

I glance at Billie, who is watching the unfolding drama with wide, curious eyes. My stomach churns painfully, each twist reminding me how stupid I’ve been to fall for all his tricks.

“It was nice meeting you, Nicole,” I rush, trying to remain professional since all around us, customers sit eating their lunch without a care in the world. “Excuse me while I get back to work.” I retreat to the kitchen, forcing myself to avert my gaze, determined not to eavesdrop on their conversation through the wall.

My mind keeps wandering back to last night, the way Elliot held on to me while we slept. The words he uttered while inside me, telling me I was like no other woman he’d been with.

Curiosity beckons like a stranger luring me into a van with candy dangled in front of my face. The temptationovercomes me, my eyes shifting toward the gap in the wall to see what is happening. The tension is palpable. Elliot’s expression switches to anger, his veins bulging on his forehead as he struggles to keep his voice low. I’ve never seen him like this.

The café continues to buzz with chatter, drowning out their words. The only thing I can hear is the sound of my beating heart, loud and echoing, climbing up into my throat and making it difficult to breathe.

Moments later, Elliot cautiously makes his way into the kitchen, his eyes darting back and forth to ensure Billie is still preoccupied with Mrs. Bertram. She graced us with her presence earlier, and considering she’s been watching this unfold, I wouldn’t be surprised if this makes front-page news tomorrow.

“Madelina, it’s not what you think,” he implores, frustration creeping into his tone.

“I think your girlfriend flew all the way from Paris because she misses you,” I deadpan, remorse clawing at my chest. “Now, if you don’t mind, I have work to do, boss.”

As I walk past him with the desperate need to end this conversation, Elliot reaches out, latching on to my arm with a possessive grip.

“Don’t do this,” he pleads. “We need to talk.”

I turn my gaze toward him, feeling the weight of his betrayal. “I’m not doing anything. In fact, I’m holding up my end of the agreement.No strings attached. As for you, your string is waiting out front.”

I step out of the kitchen and put on a fake smile for the people of Cinnamon Springs.

But inside, my pride is wounded.

What a big fucking mistake.

And the regret only grows when I watch Elliot walk out with the woman he loves.