Page 48 of Redeeming Rabbit

She rolled her eyes. “Because you’re family. And nobody should spend the holidays alone.”

I evaded her scrutiny. “I enjoy being alone. In fact, I prefer it.”

My work slacks didn’t spontaneously burst into flames—because science—but they definitely should have since I was lying through my teeth. It was true that I had previously enjoyed being alone, but that was before Rabbit had bounded into my life and turned my emotions upside down. Now, alone felt… well, lonely. In fact, the past few weeks had been the loneliest of my life, which made no sense because I was an introvert. Introverts didn’t get lonely. Alone was usually my happy place, but try as I might, I could no longer convince myself I preferred it.

Tina eyed me like she also expected my pants to catch fire. “We’ll circle back to that later. But first, how are you? How’s work?”

I let out a breath and genuinely smiled at her. Work was safer territory. “Busy. We’re on the third round of trials and getting desperate for more funding. Lysha has been organizing an investor dinner for next weekend, so I’ve been putting together a presentation for potential investors.”

Tina sat up. “Will you be the one presenting?”

I nodded. “Unfortunately. Unless I can develop a highly contagious illness next week that would enable me to call in sick. I’m open to suggestions if you have any.”

She snickered. “I’m sure you’ll do fine.”

I had serious reservations about my upcoming presentation but kept them to myself. However, something had been bothering me, and I needed advice from my socially adept sister. “One of the potential investors asked me to be his date for the dinner.”

Tina’s eyes widened in surprise. “That sounds…” she said, trailing off, seemingly at a loss for words.

“Like coercion? Yes. I’m reasonably certain that’s what he’s going for. Get this—he didn’t even put forth the effort to ask me himself. Instead, I received a call from his assistant, inviting me to be Cameron’s date for the night. The asshole made it sound like Cameron was doing me a favor that only a fool would refuse. We need his company’s support, so instead of brushing him off, I told him I already had a date.”

“Do you?”

I shook my head, surprised she’d asked. She knew me better than that. “No. But I figured I could claim my date had a family emergency and had to cancel on me at the last minute.”

She nodded. “Good idea.”

“I thought so, too, but Cameron’s assistant insisted, claiming Mr. Chamberlain expects to have questions about his possible investment and would appreciate ‘direct access’ to me,” I air quoted, “so I can alleviate any concerns.”

“He said that?” Tina asked, her tone positively scandalized. At my nod, she added, “The guy sounds like a total creep.”

“Oh, he is.”

I told her all about the lunch I’d shared with Cameron Chamberlain, followed by the disturbing limo ride and the spattering of phone calls and flowers I’d received since, only pausing when the waitress served our food.

“Stalker alert,” Tina said when we were alone again.

“Right? Anyway, I told the assistant I would see if I could get out of my date and would let him know first thing Monday morning.”

“What are you gonna do?”

“I don’t know. But I’ll figure something out.”

“What about Rabbit?”

His name conjured the memories I’d been trying so hard to repress. The sound of his laughter, the teasing glint in his eyes, the way he looked at me like I was his favorite dessert. Each fragmented flashback stabbed me in the chest. His concern as he washed me down in the shower. The hurt and betrayal oozed from his eyes as he dressed and stormed out of my apartment. Everything I’d packed away came flooding back, devouring my carefully constructed mental walls and filling me with the crushing dread of regret.

My eyes burned, and I wanted to drop my head to my hands and bawl, but it was lunchtime, and we were in the middle of a crowded restaurant next door to my lab. I had to wrestle my emotions under control.

“Oh, sweetie.”

Tina’s voice was full of compassion. I didn’t have to look up to know she was moving, no doubt preparing to come around and give me a hug. It was the last thing in the world I needed, so I held up a hand and assured her I was fine. She didn’t look convinced, but she settled back into her seat and allowed me a moment to compose myself. Knowing I would need to give her something, I struggled to piece together a string of words.

“Rabbit and I are…”

Over.

The word stuck to the roof of my mouth like peanut butter. Dropping my head, I let out my breath and tried again. “He left shortly after you did. I’ve sent him two texts, but he hasn’t responded.”

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