Page 99 of The Rancher's Secret Relationship

"He doesn't love me."

Elizabeth bit her lip when she heard the sudden catch in her friend's voice. "Are you really sure about that?"

Blake slowly nodded.

"But when he was drunk..."

"Exactly," Blake said painfully. "He wasdrunk."

"Did he cheat on you?" Frankie finally asked. "Is that why you're so sure—-" Her voice trailed off when Blake shook her head. "Then...didyoucheat on him?"

"No," Blake whispered. "But it doesn't matter because..." Her voice broke.Oh God.She jumped to her feet. "I...I think I need to go to the toilet." Blake was just seconds away from bursting into tears, and she would really rather not have anyone see her break down.

"B—-" Frankie's voice trailed off as Blake rushed away.

"Oh no."

Elizabeth's dismayed tone had Frankie looking back. "What is it?"

The other girl pointed at the bar. "Thornton's seat is empty, too."

THORNTON STARED AThis reflection in the mirror.What the fuck am I doing?He was falling apart, and it was all because of a girl. A girl, goddammit. He used to laugh every time he heard about men falling to pieces after getting dumped, and now karma was biting him in the ass.

Man up, Blackwood.

Blake had made her choice clear, and she had chosen Teller over him.

He had to fucking accept that and move on.

But the moment he stepped out of the men's toilet, the first thing he saw was her, coming out of the ladies', her eyes red-rimmed and swollen with tears.

Their gazes collided, andGod,even that...even that felt like it had been so fucking long, that when she suddenly tried to bolt like he had a contagious disease, Thornton found himself reacting instinctively.

Hard fingers curled around her arm, and then Blake suddenly found herself being spun back to face Thornton.

"Why are you so hell bent on avoiding me?"

Instead of answering, she lowered her gaze to his injured hand. "What happened?"

"Don't change the subject."

Silence.

"Dammit, Blake. Just tell me why."

But it seemed as if their roles had suddenly reversed, and it was Thornton who had all the words to say while Blake could only stare at him.

"I should be the one who's unable to stand the sight of you," he said in a hollow voice, "but it's not working like that for me. If all I can have is see you, then I want it. But you..." He stopped speaking when he heard a strangled sound escape her. "Blake..." He saw her body start shaking at the strength of her sobs, butwhen he tried to touch her, she yanked away, and he could feel himself turning cold.

Blake couldn't stand the desolation in Thornton's eyes. "I'm s-sorry."

"Then tell me why you're acting like I fucking killed you."

Because you did.

But she just couldn't make herself say that, and when she heard voices and footsteps, realized that this was the real start of the party and that anyone could just walk in at any moment and see her crying—-

"I need to go," she whispered jerkily.

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