Page 103 of If Tomorrow Never Comes

“And you agreed! You said you wanted to try again!”

“I did.” At the time, it had been true.

“Only because Elliott disappeared on you, though, right? Only until she popped back up into your life. Oh my God, you dumped me just a few weeks after she came back into the picture. You said there wasn’t anyone else, but you lied, didn’t you?”

He was at a loss. Nothing he said would be the right thing. “I didn’t break up with youforElliott.” That much was true. “Her presence brought some clarity and got me thinking about things, yes. I started asking myself what I wanted from a relationship, and if I could be theman you deserved with her around. The truth is, I couldn’t, and I had to face that. I refused to be that guy. But I didn’t end things with you in order to pursue her. And I never made any move on her while we were together, I can promise you that.”

She laughed, but it carried no joy. “What, you want a round of applause? A pat on the back for waiting a few months before going for it? Gotta wait the appropriate amount of time, I guess. Maybe I should thank you for being such a good guy and doing the hard thing in the name of integrity. Is that what you were hoping for?”

He shook his head. “No, I—”

“You’re just like your dad, aren’t you?”

It was worse than a physical blow. His lips parted as all the air whooshed from his lungs and an ice-cold sensation trickled down his backbone.

“Why did you even agree to get back together this time when you so obviously still had a thing for this woman?” Her voice rose as she went on. “It’s like you used me as a prop to fill the time while waiting for her. For years I’ve listened to you say you wanted to be different, but that move right there—it’s a total Rick Sullivan move, through and through.”

The room started a slow spin around him as deep unease settled in his gut. Was she right?

His heart hadn’t been in it when he and Carly got back together after Elliott, but at the time, he’d honestly thought Elliott was gone for good. What was he supposed to do? Never try with another woman ever again? That had seemed ridiculous and a little pathetic, and he’d thought moving on was the right thing to do. That it was the way back to his normal.

But he’d known Carly didn’t make him feel the same way Elliott had. Was Carly right? Had he used her as a distraction or as his second-best option when his first no longer existed?

It had been a mistake.

Maybe calling her today had been, too.

“I’m so sorry.” The words felt hollow and useless, but the damage was done, and an apology was all he could offer her. “I never wanted to hurt you.”

“If that was true, you would have been honest with me from the start.”

He forced a swallow down his parched throat. “I should have been.”

“I’m done with this; I have to go. Good luck with Elliott. Actually, I should wish her good luck, because who knows how long it will be before you find someone fresh and new to move on to. You might have been late to the game, but it’s the same one all the men in your family play. I guess you’ve finally joined the team.”

The line went dead, and he stared at the screen, eyes burning. He tossed the phone to the side, sudden exhaustion leaving him with a strange emptiness, and dropped his head into his hands.

Chapter Thirty

Elliott

Elliott thought about Jamie all afternoon. She’d left after lunch, allowing him privacy for the conversation with Carly.

She was just as much a part of this as he was and had wanted to deal with it together, but he and Carly’s history went back several years. There might be things he’d want to say without her listening in. Part of her had hoped he’d ask her to stay, anyway ...

He hadn’t.

So now it was past dinnertime, and she hadn’t heard a word. Surely they’d spoken by now?

Were they still talking? Maybe he hadn’t gotten ahold of her at first and she’d only just called him back. But what if the call had ended hours ago and it had gone so poorly he was upset? What if he needed her?

She tucked her hands between her knees, staring at her phone for a few long seconds before she grabbed it and called him. It rang once, twice, three times. Once more and then his deep, friendly voice asked her to leave a message.

She ended the call and texted him instead.

Elliott:??Thinking about you. I hope everything went okay.??

When he didn’t reply, she opted to get out of her apartment and away from the ass-size indention she’d made worrying on her couch forthe last several hours. She passed his truck in the lot near his building on her way out.

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