Page 103 of Arrogant Playboy

“Seriously? You think a revolving door of women is going to make you forget Rosie Hunt?”

“It worked for you.”

“Daniel, what the hell. You just told me you were in love with Rosie. That is huge for you. And now you’re throwing her away as if she doesn’t mean anything to you.”

“I’m not talking about it with you.”

“You will, otherwise, I’m getting on the next flight to Greece and making you talk to me.”

Like a child, I hang up on my brother. He calls again and again but I ignore every single one of them.

I’m lazingin the sun on the deck watching the women pose and take hundreds of photos. Yes, they are all beautiful, they’re models, but none of them pique my interest. Luckily, other friends of mine are here to entertain them because I’m not in the mood. My phone rings again and I check to see if it’s my brother again, but it’s Alistair.

“Hey,” I say, answering his call.

“Seriously?” Alex says. I pull the phone away and check the number, no it’s definitely Alistair’s. “You’ll answer his call but not mine.” That’s because you read me the Riot Act when I canceled the party, and high-tailed it to Greece.

“I don’t want to hear it,” I groan to him.

Alex’s nickname is Mr. Romantic. He always had love hearts in his eyes, and ever since meeting his soulmate that is Ivy Starr, he wants everyone else to feel the same way. Granted, everyone is like him, I’m just the last one standing, and I thought that, finally, it was my turn to join their club.I was wrong.

“You will hear it. I wish I never told you about Dubai because then I’d know I wasn’t the reason two people’s hearts are hurt. But what you’re doing to Rosie is cruel.” She’s not missing me.“Ivy said she’s quiet around the office. She’s lost her light.” My stomach turns. It’s for the best.

“She deserves to have the career she’s worked so hard for. I don’t want to be the reason for her to stay,” I tell him.

“Did you even discuss that with her?”

“No. Because she’s told me so many times that is what she wants.”

“Did you tell her you loved her?” Alex asks.

“No. I asked her to start a future with me and she couldn’t answer me. Now I know why, because she wanted to go to Dubai and didn’t know how to tell me.”

“You’re being a moron,” Alex says. “A fucking stubborn moron.”

“I’ve heard the same thing from Louis. I will not make Rosie choose between her career and me. I don’t care that I can’t see my life with anyone else, or that I’ve thought about what it might be like to have kids with her. It’s best if I make a clean break so that she can move on more easily,” I explain to him.

“Again, have you explained this to her?”

“It’s for the best this way.”

“For whom? Because all I can see is you hurting two people,” Alex yells at me.

“I’ll get over it,” I grumble.

“I know you will, but I don’t know if Rosie can.” That pit in my stomach opens further from hearing his words. “I know you think you’re doing the right thing, but I’m telling you, you’re not. Come home and deal with it.”

“I can’t,” I confess.

“Tell Rosie how you feel. Lay it all out at her feet, and if she says no, then at least you know.” Silence falls between us. “If you stay out there and she sees the shit that you’re posting then you may lose her for good.”

My heart is pumping,and my palms are sweaty as I hold the flowers for Rosie. I got back last night from Greece, Alex was right. I never gave Rosie the chance, I took the choice away from her. I hurt her. I fucked up. I let fear rule me and I’m going to have to deal with the consequences. I press the bell to her apartment and wait and wait and wait. Shit. She’s not there, I look down at my watch, it’s almost eight. Is she on a date? Is she working late? I take a couple of steps onto the pavement to see if there are any lights on in her flat, and there aren’t. My stomach twists and turns. I’ve fucked up.

Daniel: Rosie’s not home.

Alex: Then you wait.

So, I do, but another thirty minutes roll by and she’s still not home.

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