Page 265 of My Rules

“Right.” I nod in an overexaggerated way.

The air swirls between us, but with what, I’m just not sure.

“And your girlfriend?”

“We broke up.”

“Why?”

“Because she wasn’t you.”

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “That’s a good reason.”

“She didn’t seem to think so.”

Ha!

I bite my bottom lip to hide my smile.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

“I ...” He pauses as his eyes search mine. “I needed to see you.”

“Yeah, well ... I don’t associate with men who cheat, so ...” I shrug.

“I wasn’t with her when you came to New York.”

My eyes hold his as I listen.

“I only told you that because I knew it would make you leave.”

Asshole.

“Right ...” I pause as I try to articulate my thoughts. “I was a mess before we broke up, and I’ve owned that, but the way you handled our breakup was just as bad. To not even talk to me until I hijacked you in your car at work was pathetic.”

“Agreed.”

“And immature, not to mention selfish.”

He twists his lips. “The evidence does suggest that.”

An awkward silence falls between us.

“Maybe ...” He shrugs. “Maybe ... I needed to do some work on myself too.”

“Maybe?” I raise my eyebrow in disgust.

“Probably.” He gives a subtle shake of his head. “Definitely.”

“I’ll ask you again, Blake. What are you doing here?”

“I want a second chance.”

“Why?”

“Because a life without you isn’t one that I want.” His eyes search mine.

I get a lump in my throat as I feel my defenses drop.

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