Page 37 of Reclaiming Love

Chapter 21

At exactly 5.30 p.m., Melissa waited in a corner of the lobby, her eyes darting in the direction of the elevator bank every so often. Her stomach churned as she counted the slow minutes, willing for this moment to be over.

All afternoon she’d run through the numerous permutations of how their conversation might turn out: what she’d say, and how he would respond.

Her heart stopped in her mouth when she saw Matt get out of the elevator and look around for her. Their gazes locked and he swaggered over to her, to the corner of the huge white marbled lobby, the color broken up by swathes of potted green plants and a couple of men in dark navy blue at either end of the huge open space.

This time his arms remained locked by his side. He faced her wordlessly, no greeting or acknowledgement, as if he was waiting for her to deliver what it was she had to say.

She glanced at the security guard, who caught her eye and nodded at her. Had he sensed her unease? Was it that apparent?

The look Matt now gave her was so cold that she wondered if this was the best place or the best way to do it.

“We have to talk,” she said, her voice serious, trying to get out her message before she chickened out of it.

“You said.” He shoved a hand into his jacket. “Does it have to be here?”

“I think it’s best.” Even though she wasn’t so sure that doing it here was the best course of action.

“Why’re you acting so weird?”

Melissa looked around again. “I’m not,” she said. Even though her chest constricted and she felt as though she was wearing Spanx one size too small.

“Why don’t we at least go someplace else?” He seemed to sense her hesitation and then he reached out for her hand. This one motion convinced her that it had to be now. There was no reason to string it out any longer—and there was a danger of that happening if they ended up going elsewhere. It would only prolong her decision and would give him unnecessary hope.

She moved her hand away, and drew in a long breath. “I don’t think we should see each other anymore.”

His face drained to white. “You don’t think?” Typical. The thing that had him annoyed the most was that she’d made the decision.

Finding strength from somewhere, she held fast, and kept her voice low. “I’ve been thinking about things and I think maybe we ought to take a break.” She regretted saying that, because the last thing she wanted to give him was hope. But it helped to put a salve around her words—a salve she needed, judging by the cobra stare he gave her. If she gained any strength, it was from knowing she was in a public place and that the security guard was right across the lobby in direct line of sight.

“You managed to think this up when you were home over Christmas?” he said quietly.

This was good, he was quiet, holding it in well, bearing up and seemed to hold it together. She knew he wouldn’t take it well; hadn’t expected him to shake hands and walk away, but she had prepared herself for more outpouring of anger.

“I missed you, the whole time you were away. I couldn’t wait for you to get back. And this is what you hit me with?” He acted as though he was the one who’d been hurt, as if he hadn’t seen this coming at all.

“I’m sorry.” She instinctively moved toward him, feeling a little guilty, for the shock of it, for hurting him. But he sprang away, as if the mere touch of her now repulsed him.

“Don’t,” he warned.

“Don’t be like that.” She didn’t want it to end like this, with such ill feeling. She moved forward again, this time her hand landed on his forearm before he smacked it away. Hard. The idea of it hurt more than the physical action. She stayed back, knowing things could escalate quickly, knowing what he was like.

“Is everything alright, ma’am?” The security guard stepped in.

Matt gave the man a contemptuous look. She gave him a smile, and tried to make it stay on her face as she turned to address Matt. “Yes, thank you.”

The security guard gave them both a knowing look and departed but remained closer this time, not too far from where they stood. “I don’t want to hurt you, Matt, but I think it’s the right thing.”

“You think it’s the right thing?” His face was an angry mess of furrows and fear. “You’ve met someone, haven’t you?” The venom in his accusation frightened her.

“No.” She shook her head, wanting him to dismiss this idea completely. Because she hadn’t met anyone at all. Not even Noah. Noah didn’t exist in that capacity.

She wanted to break up because he was cold and cruel and twisted. He had a side other girls might like, but she despised. How could she tell him that?

“I haven’t met anyone. I’ve only been with you since we’ve been together. Please don’t make this any harder than it already is.” She’d been foolish to think it would be easy. Oh, by the way, I don’t want to see you anymore. Bye.

His lips curled slightly at the corners of his mouth. “Harder? You’ve gone and ruined everything.”

“I don’t feel we belong together.” She was desperate for him to hear her.

He laughed out loud, then hooted louder. “You’re soft in the head, not just around your stomach. You’ve watched too much of that Twilight crap.”

He left her standing there, a quivering, shaking mess of numbness.

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