Page 31 of The Bonus

I wait and wait and wait…

Twenty minutes later he walks out, his back ramrod straight and he looks me up and down. “I thought you were getting dressed.”

My eyes search his and he snaps them away. He goes to the coffee machine and pours himself a cup of coffee, he can’t even look me in the eye.

“Is this about me leaving?” I ask softly.

He stays silent and sips his coffee, his eyes are wild as if he’s about to lose control.

It is.

“I guess…” I smile hopefully, “…I could rent my house out and…” I shrug. “We can’t work together anymore, but…”

He walks over and stares out the window with his back to me.

Yes, why not? I could stay. After the magical night that we had, I have to see where this goes.

“I’ll get another job, and I mean…” I begin to pace as I think out loud, “…I’ll have to rent another apartment, but as long as the rent covers my mortgage…then.”

He remains silent, his back still to me.

“I mean, of course, I’ll have to go for a week to collect the keys and stuff, but I’ll come right back.”

“You need to go to Connecticut.”

I frown. “Connecticut?”

“Wherever the fuck it is you’re moving to,” he spits angrily.

I step back, shocked by his venom. “But… I thought?—”

“You thought wrong.” He cuts me off.

“What?”

He stays staring out the window, back straight, shoulders squared.

“Look at me?”

He turns. “You need to go,” he whispers.

“Why? I don’t understand. We had the most incredible night?”

“I know.” His haunted eyes hold mine.

“Then why?”

“Because I can’t give you what you want, much less what you deserve.”

“It’s okay.” I take his hand in mine and lift it to kiss his fingertips. “We can work out this dating thing together.” I smile softly.

“I can’t marry you.”

I frown. “Well, we just got together.” I chuckle. “Who knows what will happen?”

“I know.” His jaw ticks as it clenches, his eyes hold mine. “I am to marry an Italian girl.”

“What?” I drop his hand.

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