Page 73 of Resisting my Roommate

Did she, though? It’s not like we have the type of relationship where we share things with each other.

We don’t have a relationship. Period.

“Now she works for a big food conglomerate as the social responsibility manager.”

“Social responsibility manager?” I repeat, clueless about what that is.

“A lot of big corporations have entire departments devoted solely to social responsibility. The goal is to develop apositive social value for the company and give back to various communities.”

“What does that have to do with you?”

She gives me a sheepish smile. “She offered me a place on her team.”

My expression widens and, without hesitation, I wrap her in my arms, swinging her around. “That’s amazing, Abbey.”

“Yeah,” she says, but her voice lacks even a hint of enthusiasm.

Confusion knits my brow as I set her back down on her feet. “Why aren’t you happy?”

“I should be. It’s a great job with an incredible salary. I wouldn’t have to depend on anyone in order to pay my bills, which is what I’ve wanted since I walked out on Carson and realized just how much control I’d unknowingly given him over my life.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“It’s in New York.”

“Oh.” I swallow hard, neither one of us saying anything for several long moments.

She doesn’t have to. I already know what she’s thinking. It’s written all over her face.

She wants me to give her a reason to stay.

But I can’t do that.

“You shouldn’t let that hold you back, Abbey,” I tell her, trying to sound supportive but feeling like I’m choking on my own words. “Don’t give up this opportunity for anything…” A painful lump forms in my throat. Almost as if my body is fighting against what I’m about to say. “Or anyone.”

I give her a pointed stare, what I’ve left unspoken hanging heavy between us.

“I just thought?—”

“We both knew this had an expiration date when it started,” I interrupt her before she can finish. “Now we know when that is.” I force a smile, my voice trembling slightly as my true emotions fight to seep through the cracks. “I’ll definitely miss having you around…”

“Just not enough to?—”

“No,” I declare firmly, not wanting to make this any harder than it already is.

She doesn’t say anything for several long moments. Just stares at me. Finally, she closes her eyes, releasing a shuttering breath. “I understand.”

When she returns her gaze to mine, a faint smile plays at the corners of her lips, as if I didn’t just rip out her heart and shatter it into a million pieces all over the kitchen floor.

“I guess we should probably make the most out of the time we have left.”

She saunters up to me with a confident stride, but I can see the hurt in her eyes, despite her brave front. Just like the night she walked into my bar in a wedding dress.

“Unless you just want to call it quits now,” she adds quickly. “I understand if you do.”

I peer into her brilliant blue eyes, not immediately answering.

Every voice in my head tells me that’s exactly what I should do. That if I continue spending time with her now that I know she’s leaving, it’ll only be harder when we say goodbye. But I’ve said it since that very first hit. This woman is a drug. I’ll keep coming back for more until I have no choice but to let her go.

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