Page 99 of Playing Flirty

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The mention of William made my legs wobbly. I scanned the room, but he was nowhere in sight. He’d probably seen all of it, including the kiss. I shuddered like a leaf.

Neema dragged me outside toward her car, and I settled inside with a heavy heart.

“Did you say yes?” she asked as she buckled her seat belt.

I knew she’d support whatever decision I made. I turned the ring box around in my hands. “No.”

“Did you say no?”

“No.”

She bit her lip and gave my knee a squeeze. My brain went into overdrive and autopilot simultaneously. I had no idea howI got into my pajamas or into bed that night, or even whether I showered or not. The only thing I was aware of was the ring box still clutched in my hand, the edges pressing into my palm. The sound of Patrick’s voice proposing to me replayed over and over in my brain. When I closed my eyes, I once again saw the smile on his face and the moment I’d planned a lifetime around.

And it happened. It was real. So why didn’t I say yes?

There was no point in trying to sleep. My phone flashed with concerned messages from Claire. Neema and Lincoln had already told her everything, but I didn’t want to talk to anyone about it.

Powering on my laptop, I opened my Life Goals spreadsheet.

I was supposed to get married soon. Patrick’s name was still on my spreadsheet—I hadn’t bothered updating it after our breakup.

My eyes drifted over my career goals, and the already big hole in my stomach grew, eating into my other organs until I was sure the acid churning inside me would burn right through the flesh and muscle.

My career goals meant nothing anymore.

How was this happening when all I ever wanted was a simple, standard life?

The same life Patrick was now offering me.

With shaking hands, I opened a blank spreadsheet.

Pros:

We have history, mostly good history

Handsome

Motivated