Page 38 of Spark

Shay started rubbing her back. “Okay, and what did you say?”

“I kicked him out of my apartment.”

Shay pulled back and wiped away Hattie’s tears. “You love him?”

“How can I?” she all but yelled. “That’s ridiculous. I’m ridiculous. I’ve only known him two weeks. My parents would be mortified, would think I was a fool if they knew I thought I was in love after two weeks!” She sounded hysterical, but there was no controlling it.

Shay shook her head. “This isn’t about your parents. This is about you and how you feel. They have no say in this. What they think is irrelevant. And as for not being able to fall in love in two weeks? That’s bullshit. I fell for Hugh the moment I laid eyes on him. I didn’t know it at the time, but it’s true. And I’ll fight anyone who tries to tell me I’m wrong.”

“You did?” Hattie whispered.

Shay nodded and tucked a strand of hair behind Hattie’s ear. “Yes, and Hugh tried to fight it, like you are now, but it was the same for him. If you love him, don’t let him go.”

“But…this is insane, right? I can’t go after him and tell him I love him, can I?”

“Are you willing to lose him? Live without him?” Shay said.

No, she realized. No, she couldn’t. She didn’t want to. Hattie surged to her feet.

“Go!” Shay called after her as she ran for the door.

Hattie got in her car and headed toward the garage. She couldn’t let him leave. She had to talk to him. When he’d told her he loved her, she’d panicked—like she had the first night she’d gone home with him, the first night they met, and after they babysat together, when he’d told her he wanted to get to know her better, that he’d wanted more of her—because on some level she’d known there was something special between them.

Something unstoppable. A connection she couldn’t explain.

A soul-deep knowledge that she could fall for him if she dropped her guard. That being with him, even once, could risk all her plans for her new life.

She thought being with Dex would complicate things, but now she knew how she felt. Now she’d let herself feel it. Being with him was the easiest decision she’d ever made, and the least complicated thing in her life.

She finally reached the garage and stopped without even properly parking. Leaving the car running, she climbed out and ran for the steps to the apartment above. She reached the top step and pounded on the door.

“Dex?” She kept banging, her tears threatening all over again. “Please let me in…please.”

“He’s gone, Hattie.”

She spun around.

Hugh stood at the foot of the stairs, frowning deeply. “He loaded his car and left close to an hour ago. I’m sorry.”

“He’s gone?”

He nodded.

Hattie’s legs gave out from under her and she ended up sitting on the ground on the small landing in front of the door, using it for support.

He was gone. She was too late.

Chapter 11

Dex straightened his tie, grabbed his suit jacket off the passenger seat of his truck, and taking a fortifying breath, opened the door and climbed out.

People were gathered around the church, talking and laughing. He was not in the mood to do either. He’d been hoping to sneak in and take a seat at the back. He muttered a curse under his breath when he saw the bride’s family and Zane’s mom and grandparents all gathered there.

Nothing for it now.

As he approached, it felt like everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to him. Maybe he was imagining it? But he didn’t think so. What did they expect? For him to break down? Deck Zane and make a huge scene? Well, right then he didn’t give a fuck about any of this.

He hadn’t given a fuck for a while and especially not in the last couple of weeks.