Page 91 of Ink & Desire

“I think I’m going to go,” I say, fighting against the urge to cry.

I move on autopilot, gathering up the bags I packed for the trip and carrying them out to the front door. Corbin still sits frozen on the bed, making no move to stop me from leaving. My eyes stay dry all the way to the car and the entire drive home. It isn’t until I walk into my empty apartment and close the door behind me that the tears start to fall.

Chapter 36

Corbin

I fucked things up for good this time. It’s the one thought running through my head on a loop as I make my way to the shop the next day. There’s no way to fix the mess I made this time. I know it’s for the best.Avery and I never made sense. It was bound to end eventually. It’s better that it happened now instead of later when things were more serious.

I check my watch. Her plane should have landed in New York by now. I wonder what she told her mom about my absence. I know she’d told her I was coming. I feel a pang of guilt at forcing her to face that alone, but a clean break is better. Meeting her family would have made things even more awkward when it ended later. This is better.

I let myself into the shop before locking the door behind me. Turning around, I jolt in surprise when I see Jessie coming out of the break room, a cup of coffee cradled in her hands.

“What are you doing here?” she asks.

“I own the place,” I say.

She rolls her eyes. “Aren’t you supposed to be taking the weekend off?”

“I thought you were doing the same,” I say.

She shrugs. “I have a nipple piercing coming in half an hour. Noah gave me his key.”

I just nod before walking over to my station.

“Well?” Jessie asks.

“Well, what?”

She rolls her eyes. “I told you why I’m here. Your turn.”

I should have known she’d have questions when I showed up here. In my defense, no one was supposed to be here today.

“Henley’s coming by for a session,” I say.

She sighs. “Okay, butwhy are you here?You’re supposed to be in New York with Avery, right?”

I blink at her. “How do you know about that?”

She laughs, rolling her eyes again. “If you must know, I’ve known about you two for weeks. But that’s not the point. What happened? And why aren’t you with her? Did you fuck it up?”

My anger twists in my gut making me want to lash out at Jessie. I manage to rein it in before I do something to make another woman lose trust in me.

“I’m not going to get into how you knew or why you didn’t mention it,” I say. “It doesn’t matter anymore because it’s over now. Things can go back to normal.”

She eyes me for a long moment. “No offense, boss. But that’s the last thing you should want.”

“Why the hell not?” I snap.

She doesn’t flinch from the anger in my voice this time.

“You were miserable before,” she says. “You’re better with her.”

I’m saved from needing to respond by a knock on the front door. Turning, I see Henley standing on the other side of the glass wearing a big smile.

“Let it go,” I say, walking toward the door.

Jessie sighs, but doesn’t say anything else as I unlock the door to let my sister in.

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