Page 19 of One Week With You
“Don’t,” she blurted.
My stomach sank. “What did I do?”
“It’s what you didn’t do, Rafe.”
Well, that pissed me off. “Meaning?”
She huffed, frustrated. It was pointless trying not to reply. I was a dog with a bone when I needed answers. Someone had to stop and it wouldn’t be me.
Talia folded her arms and sent me a fierce, challenging look. “How long have you been telling everyone I’m your girlfriend?”
“Oh. That.”
“Yes,that,” she said flatly. “How long?”
I blew out a breath. How the hell could I answer this and come out unscathed? Impossible. “I don’t know? A few years maybe.”
“A few years,” she repeated. “Wow. No wonder Ingrid was surprised I was here. The elusive girlfriend finally shows her face. They must think I’m an asshole.”
“No one would ever think that about you.”
“Michael did. He said I was heartless. And if someone I’d been sleeping with could think that about me, imagine all the strangers in there.”
“Well, Michael’s a fucking idiot,” I snapped, furious she’d even mentioned his name. I didn’t need the blatant reminder rubbed in my goddamn face either. “And he’s irrelevant. Don’t mention him again.”
Talia turned sharply. “Don’t tell me what to do.”
“Okay.Pleasedon’t mention him again.”
“Oh, much better,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Thepleasereally softens the blow.”
“I thought so.”
“Rafe…” Despite herself, a weak smile broke out across her face, impossible for her to stay mad. She shook her head – at me or herself, I wasn’t sure – and curled her hands around the railing as she stared out at the River Thames. The wind sent her hair fluttering behind her, and I closed my eyes when I caught all that floral scent that was just… Talia.
I’d once followed that scent around my local supermarket convinced it was her even though she lived nowhere near me. My disappointment when I couldn’t find her had been eye opening. I’d thought about the reasons for months afterwards.
“I don’t understand why you used me as your fake girlfriend. After everything that…” She shook her head. “You could’ve made one up.”
“I could have. You’re right. But why does it matter?”
Her gaze turned razor sharp. “Excuse me?”
“It’s not like it’s affected your life in any way.” The truth. I’d been throwing her name around for years and no harm had come from it. “Until tonight you had no idea. Why are you so angry?”
Her mouth opened and closed, then, “I don’t like people thinking I’m rude! Everyone thinks I’ve ignored invitations to your work events, like I don’t give a shit or something.”
“No they don’t. And who cares if they do?”
She pinched the bridge of her nose, like I wasn’t getting it. “I just would’ve appreciated all the facts. You know how I feel about being blindsided.”
Deflated, I couldn’t argue with that. “Okay, that’s fair. I should’ve told you. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.”
“But there’s more to this. I know you.”
Talia’s gaze drifted away.
