Page 32 of In a Bind

Chapter Twenty-Three

Raini

The intercom buzzed, and I hurried out of the bedroom to answer it. "Hello."

"Hey, Raini, I got off work early and thought we could take a drive to the beach."

My chest felt heavy at the sound of his voice. I hadn't expected him.

"Come on up, Zane."

I pressed my arms against my stomach and paced the room, waiting for him to get up to my apartment. "Coward, coward, coward," I repeated to myself. His knock startled me out of my self-scolding session.

I walked to the door and opened it. Why did he always have to look so damn amazing?

He came right in. "I got done early and thought it'd be nice to drive down to the—" He stopped when he saw the suitcases. I tried to gather my courage before he turned around to face me, but I couldn't muster any. My throat ached as his gaze came around to my face.

"You're leaving?"

"Just to Paris to study with some other artists," I said it airily, as if it was no big deal and as if I wasn't the world's biggest coward. The instant hurt in his expression made tears burn the back of my eyes.

"And when were you going to fucking tell me? When you were walking through the Paris airport?"

"I had meant to tell you but this all came up so suddenly."

"So you really are a chicken. Just like you said. Things got a little too much for you so off you fly to France."

"It's a great opportunity," my voice was shaky, and I had to work hard to keep it together.

"Sounds like it." He headed for the door.

"I'll call and write whenever I get a chance."

He stopped at the door and looked back at me. "Don't bother."

He walked out, and I sat down in the middle of the floor and sobbed.

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