Page 2 of Only You

“Don’t come near me.” I pointed at him. “You’re married?” I grabbed the sides of my head. “And today is your anniversary? I can’t believe how fucking stupid I am.”

“Hannah, I can explain. Things haven’t been good between Charmaine and me in forever. I was going to divorce her.”

“You’re a liar!” I shouted.

“No, baby. I swear. I love you so much, and I can’t lose you. I don’t love her.”

I stood there and shook my head as the anger and humiliation brewed.

“Go to hell, asshole. If you ever contact me again, I’ll get a restraining order against you.” I grabbed my purse and pushed the button to the elevator.

“Hannah, wait. Just listen to me,” he begged.

The elevator doors opened, and I stepped inside, fiercely pressing the button to the lobby. “As I said, Matthew. Go to hell.” The doors shut.

I climbed into the cab, gave the driver my address, brought my hands to my face, and started sobbing.

“Miss, are you okay?” he asked.

“No. I’m not okay,” I said, sobbing.

A million little things were spinning around in my head. The pain in my chest was indescribable, and it hurt to breathe.

Entering my apartment, I pulled my phone from my purse and found several missed calls from Matthew. Pulling up his number, I blocked it. How could I have been so stupid not to see the signs? His charm blinded me. Staying in Connecticut every other week, two phones and the calls he’d step out to take in private. His penthouse didn’t have much. He told me he was a minimalist. It wasn’t his home like he led me to believe. Connecticut was his home—where he lived with his wife two weeks out of the month. I fell on the couch and laid my head back as a sickness tore through me. I needed to know something. It had been eating at me since I’d left Matthew’s. Unblocking his number, I took a deep breath and hit call. I needed to know for closure.

“Hannah, thank God,” he answered.

“I’m only calling you to ask one simple question.”

“Anything, baby. You can ask me anything.”

“Do you have children?”

“No. We never wanted children. Please, let me come over so we can talk about everything. I love you, Hannah, and I can’t lose you.”

“You’ve already lost me, Matthew. Don’t even contact me again.” I ended the call and blocked him.

I pulled up Adalyn’s number and stared at it. If I called her now, she’d worry about me all night. I needed to get out of New York City for a while to clear my head, so I took the suitcase from my bedroom closet and threw it on the bed. After packing some things, I pulled up flights to South Carolina. There were two seats available on an eight a.m. flight in the morning. I booked it, climbed into bed, and cried myself to sleep.

Stepping off the plane, I headed to baggage claim to retrieve my suitcase, then found my way to the rental car service to pick up the car I’d rented last night. When I climbed inside, I punched the address of the art gallery into the GPS and pulled out of the airport. My phone rang. Glancing at it, my mother was calling. Shit.

“Hi, Mom.” Tears instantly filled my eyes.

“Hannah, sweetheart. I’m Just calling to check in. We haven’t spoken in a couple of days.”

“How’s Italy?” My voice quivered.

“What’s wrong? Are you in a car? You sound like you’re in a car.”

I couldn’t tell her what had happened with Matthew yet, for I didn’t want to ruin her vacation. She’d worry and get on the next flight home.

“I’m fine, Mom. I just landed in South Carolina, and I’m on my way to Harbor Falls to visit Adalyn.”

“Was this a planned trip? You didn’t mention you were going there.”

“It was a last-minute decision. I had some time off work and thought, why the hell not.”

“Adalyn must be thrilled you’re coming.”

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