Page 17 of “Not” Engaged to the Grumpy Billionaire

"Hey, Tom," I say when the local shopkeeper answers,

"Have you seen a lady around mid-twenties today? About yay high, dark hair, looks like she’s got the weight of the world on her shoulders?"

Tom’s voice is casual, and it irritates me. How can he be so calm when I’m practically losing my mind?

"Nah, Nate, haven’t seen anyone like that today. Everything okay?"

I grit my teeth, forcing my voice to stay steady.

"Yeah, fine. Just checking."

I hang up, tossing the phone onto the bed. It’s not fine. Nothing about this is fine. I can’t even go out and look for her because Max is asleep upstairs, and I can’t leave him alone. I’m stuck here, pacing, helpless, while Liz is goodness-knows where.

A sudden noise pulls me from my thoughts, the front door creaking open. My heart leaps into my throat, and I’m down to the living room in seconds.

"Liz?" I call out, my voice sharper than I intend. I see her standing there in the doorway, her hair damp from the evening mist, her eyes tired but defiant.

She doesn’t look at me right away, her shoulders tense as she closes the door behind her.

"Where on earth have you been?" The words come out harsher than I mean, but I can’t stop them. I’ve been worrying myself sick, and the relief of seeing her standing there only fuels my frustration.

She turns to me, her jaw tight.

"It’s none of your business, Nate."

"None of my—" I cut myself off, pinching the bridge of my nose to keep from snapping again.

"It is my business. You’re under my care while you’re here."

Her eyes flash, and she steps closer, the fire I had seen earlier back in full force.

"I don’t need to be under anyone’s care. And right now, I’d rather sleep on the street than stay here one more night. You've made it clear how unwelcome I am here. I'll make things easy for both of us by my leaving."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I don’t know what to say for a moment, the shock of her declaration settling in.

"What are you talking about?" I ask, my voice softer now. I cannot let her walk out like this.

"Liz, you’re not leaving."

She lifts her chin, her eyes blazing.

"I am. I’ll figure something out, don’t worry. You won’t have to put up with me much longer."

I open my mouth to argue, but she cuts me off, her voice trembling. "You’ve made it clear from the start, Nate. You don’t want me here. You’ve been cold and distant ever since I arrived."

I want to deny it, but I can’t. She’s right. I’ve kept her at arm’s length, tried to maintain distance because... well, because being close to her scares the hell out of me. But I can’t tell her that.

"That’s not true," I say, but even to my ears, the words sound weak.

"Isn’t it?" She shakes her head, the hurt in her eyes cutting through me.

"Even when I was younger, you always acted like I didn’t exist. Like I was some nuisance to you."

I blink, caught off guard.

"Liz, I didn’t—"

"Didn’t what? Didn’t notice? Or didn’t care?" Her voice wavers for the first time, and I feel something twist inside me. She’s not only angry, but she’s also hurt.

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