Page 116 of The Love Destroyers

She looks stricken. “You said I tasted like booze.”

“You did. But I like booze. You don’t like cigarettes.”

She pushes back in her chair, and I know I’ve lost her, at least for today. Getting to her feet, she says, “I’ve…you’ve given me a lot to think about.”

“Is that what you’d tell the opposing counsel?”

She ignores the question. “My mother will pay you for the time you put in, of course.”

Fuck, that hurts. “I don’t want your money. I’ve never wanted your money. I told you I’ve got that job lined up.”

“You said…”

“I know what I said. I came here for you.”

Her eyes fill with tears, but I knew her better than to think she’ll let them fall. Part of me wishes she would, the rest is relieved I don’t have to watch her cry.

“Don’t hurt yourself,” she says, her voice shaking. “Don’t drink. Don’t internet gamble. For the love of God, don’t drive fast on mountain roads.”

“You’re just giving me ideas now,” I quip. “You’ve been talking to Rosie, I take it?

Her expression flattens. “This is no joking matter. I’m sending Chuck home.”

I have to laugh at that. “I get a babysitter now?”

She was about to go to the door, to leave me, but she pauses. “Yes, dammit. I care about you.”

I want to say something unfair, like if she cared so damn much, she wouldn’t leave. But I know who I am. I know what I’ve done. All of that probably isn’t acceptable to her, especially since we were already pushing the line.

“Goodbye, Seamus,” she says, her voice quavering again. And I have to watch her turn and walk out the door, shutting it firmly behind her beautiful ass.

I know, in my heart, that she might have walked out on me for good.MyEmma might be a thing of the past.

And if that’s true, then I really am karma’s bitch.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

EMMA

After I realized what Jeffrey had done to me, I was furious. My instinct was to fight back, but every rock I threw was volleyed back at me as a bullet. Even my former friends were quick to believe Jeffrey. It made me feel broken and vulnerable, like a child again, and like a child, I’d come back home.

I’d needed my friends and my mother to build me back up.

Most of all, I’d needed Seamus.

His belief in my strength had changed me. When I was at my lowest, it had made me believe in myself too.

Now, standing outside of Seamus’s apartment, having just closed a door between us, I feel like a piece of my heart was snatched out of my chest and the rest of my body doesn’t know how to operate without it. I’m so hollow my heartbeat seems to echo inside of me.

Even so, leaving the apartment was the right call. The only call. I’m not ready to tell Seamus that I can live with what he did. I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready.

And yet, knowing the truth of what he did hasn’t made me care less. He was in an awful situation, with no clear way out. While the law is black and white, most of real life exists in thegray area between absolutes. He made what he thought was the best decision.

Carrying that awful hollowness inside, I head down to the garage, but instead of going to my car, I find myself gravitating toward Ingrid. I run a hand over her sleek side. I peer into her window. I think about the promise I made to Seamus and the likelihood that I’m going to have to break it…

“You’re not going to steal his car, are you?” Nicole asks conversationally.

I jump, then turn to glare at her. She’s wearing an orange wig and a hideous turquoise coat that’s several sizes too big for her. “What are you doing here?”

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