Page 164 of The Trouble With Bad Boys

At least I’ve remedied that. Now she just hates me.

Memories of that night make me sick to my stomach, so I take a gulp from my water bottle to push the bile back down. I could drive this route in my sleep since I’ve done it so many times, even since I left her.

I’ve never missed anyone like I have since I told Tia goodbye, but I know it’s been for the best. Now I can’t wait to see her again.

I park outside her apartment and think about how she gave up on her dreams of being a psychologist this year. Was that because of me? I don’t know. All I do know is she’s too smart to be working as some assistant to a bank president.

When I step out onto the sidewalk, it’s like the past comes rushing back to me. I used to watch over her like this in the early days. I’d stand on the sidewalk across the street from her house for hours to catch even a glimpse of her.

Staring up at her living room window, I wait for her to walk by as I realize I’ve missed her even more than I thought I did. She doesn’t appear, so after ten minutes, I begin walking to her door. I’m more nervous than I’ve ever been in my life. I know what I should expect, but what if I see a man there with her?

Jealousy surges inside me, but I take a deep breath and knock on her door. My heart slams into my chest as I wait to see my first glimpse of her beautiful face in far too long.

The door opens, and there she is staring out at me with the same sweetness I’ve always loved in her soft blue eyes. She shakes her head as she backs away from the door. She doesn’t invite me in, but I walk inside anyway, thrilled to see her.

“Why are you here?” she asks in a flat voice.

“I wanted to see you.”

She frowns and shakes her head again. “Well, I don’t want to see you.”

I take a step toward her and smile. “Yes, you do. Trust me.”

“Trust you? Is that supposed to be a joke? Because I’m not laughing.”

Another step brings me to right in front of her, and I stop. “No joke, Tia.”

She stares up at me with such sadness in her eyes that my heart breaks. I’m dying to kiss her after so long, but when I lean in, Tia slaps me hard across the face.

“That’s for breaking my heart. Now go back to your girlfriend before I do something worse.”

I watch as she marches out of the room and can’t deny I deserved that slap. I actually deserve so much more.

But what does she mean she’s going to do something worse?

Three

TIA

My hands shake like leaves in a hurricane as I try to pretend I’m strong and don’t give a damn about seeing Jaxon again. Oh, God. All that therapy and the first time he’s in front of me again I can’t deny I’m a mess. I thought if I ever saw him again I’d be able to handle it.

How wrong I was. One look at him and it was like all the time apart meant nothing and I was back in my old apartment where he broke up with me.

That’s right. I need to remember that detail. He broke up with me. He left me for another woman, so whatever he’s doing here means nothing.

I can’t deal with him right now. How dare he come to my apartment like nothing ever happened? Like he didn’t shatter my heart when he left me.

Feeling myself slip into a place I swore I wouldn’t visit ever again, I hurry to my room and lock the door behind me. I need to not see him. If I don’t see him when he talks to me, I’ll be able to hold strong and not crumble to pieces.

“Tia, come out here. I need to talk to you.”

Why is he acting like he has any right to be standing in my living room right now ordering me to do what he wants? Who the hell does he think he is?

“Go away! I don’t want to see you. You aren’t welcome here, Jaxon!”

Ah, there’s that fire my therapist told me to never let go of. I wasn’t sure it still existed, especially when I saw him at my door and all I wanted to do was throw my arms around him. As Dr. Atkins always tells me, it’s okay to care about someone. That doesn’t mean they get to be a part of my life.

Now if I can just remember that when Jaxon refuses to leave.

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