Page 106 of Love Without Demands

“But I was trying to do one of those…” he circled his hand a few times trying to think of the phrase, “one of those grand gesture things.”

Jesus help me.

Putting on my most patient smile, I said, “I don’t need grand gestures, Dwight. I need the small things. The daily things that tell a person you care.” My mind went to Cruz, the king of the small but sweet gestures. “I need a man who cools my coffee off before he brings it to me because he knows I don’t like it super-hot. I need a man who rubs my feet after I wear heels. I need a man who tells me every day with his actions and his words that I am his priority.”

Dwight rubbed the lines between his eyebrows. “But I can do that, Lehra. I want to try again with us. I promise you’ll be my number one priority from now on.”

I shook my head slowly from side to side. “It’s too late for that, and to be honest, I’m not sure we were ever right for each other.”

He tossed his hands up and let them fall to his sides. “What am I supposed to do now?”

“You’re supposed to get on with your life just like I have.”

“But—”

My voice was firm when I interrupted him. “No, Dwight, it’s not going to happen.”

His shoulders deflated like a popped balloon. “Can I at least stay here until I figure out what I want to do?”

“There are plenty of hotels in New York.”

He stared at me for a long moment and shook his head. “Are you sure about this?”

I had never been more sure about anything in my life, and I gave him a slow nod. I almost felt a little bit sorry for him, the big dummy, so I had a modicum of pity on him.

“I have to leave in a few minutes, but I’ll let you come inside so you can find a hotel room. Where’s your luggage?”

He pouted like a big baby and mumbled, “I left it downstairs with your concierge. They said they would bring it up for me.”

“I’ll call down and tell them to hold onto it.” His face fell almost to his feet, and I stepped back, gesturing for him to come in and settle on the couch. I spouted off the names of a few hotels, and he opened the browser on his phone and began tapping away, his face forming an irritated scowl.

“Okay,” he finally said, “I booked a room for the next two nights until I can figure out if I want to stay here or go back to Michigan.” His jaw muscles tightened. “I mean, I already took the job, but now I don’t know if I want to stay here.”

“I’m sure you’ll figure it out. I have somewhere I have to be, so…” I bobbed my head toward the door.”

Dwight’s eyes widened. “You’re kicking me out? But I can’t check into the hotel until two. It’s not even noon. I have seven suitcases and nowhere to go.”

I puffed out a sigh and gritted my teeth. I had to get to Kassie’s and didn’t have time to stay here and babysit his dumb ass.

“Fine. You can stay here until 1:30. Like I said, I have somewhere to be, so just close the door behind you. It’s self-locking.”

Grabbing my purse, I hooked it over my shoulder, and Dwight's forehead crinkled once again. He was going to have major wrinkles if he kept this up. “You’re leaving right now?” he asked, seeming offended that I wasn’t going to stay here and entertain him.

God, how did I ever tolerate this big man-baby?

“I am,” I said, backing away when he rose and tried to hug me, instead offering him a sad smile. “I hope you find what you’re looking for Dwight.”

His eyes filled with tears. “I already did, but I lost her.”

I wanted to tell him that he’d had ample chance to fix things, and he chose to put me second every single time. But he already knew that, even if he wasn’t quite ready to admit it to himself.

On my way upstairs, I called the building’s concierge and informed them I’d be at Monty Bouvier’s apartment and that my “guest” would be gone by two. And to remove him from my approved visitors list.

Dwight Jones was a manipulative prick, and I didn’t trust him as far as I could throw him.

“Thank you for coming over and helping me today,” Kassie said. “Doing wedding stuff is so much more fun with friends here.”

“And champagne,” Gianna said, lifting her glass in a salute before going back to tying little ribbons around party favors.

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