Page 57 of Ruined Promises

“Lexi, we need to talk,” Ben whispers while I’m standing at the coffee maker in the break room. It’s caffeine all day every day to beat the exhaustion. I barely sleep—craving his comfort, craving his touch. It’s taken everything I have within me not to run back to his arms, where I belong.

I have been timing my caffeine runs perfectly for when I know Ben is already occupied, but clearly, fate had a funny way of working just now.

A shadow envelops me as I am adding the last drop of creamer into my coffee. I don’t have to turn around to know that it’s Ben. I squeeze my eyes shut and pray that I can get back to my office in one piece. I know that if I see him, I will fall apart.

“Lexi, can we talk?”

I turn around, and my eyes avoid his gaze. There are still a few employees in the lounge, and the last thing we need is to cause a scene.

“I’m sorry, I’m busy. I have a lot of last-minute work I need to finalize before the big event. Unless it has to do with donations or place cards, I don’t have time for it.”

I try to brush past Ben, but he wraps his fingers around my arm gently. “Lex.” His voice is full of angst and hurt. Hurt that I put there. Hurt that I feel deep down in my soul.Don’t cry. You can’t let him see you cry.

I grab my arm from his grasp.

“Don’t,” I choke out and escape the small room. Surprisingly he doesn’t chase me, not wanting to cause an even bigger scene. Before turning the corner, I glance over my shoulder to find Ben standing there, running his fingers through his hair, like I used to do. His eyes are full of defeat. As if he could sense me looking at him, his eyes lift, but I scurry away and close the door to my office. I relax against the wooden door and allow the tears to fall.

With every fallen drop, another shattered piece of my heart breaks.

Every knock on the door has my heart jumping, thinking that it’s Ben for another face-off, but he never shows. I guess he has finally realized I don’t want to talk.

* * *

I am currently drowning my sorrows in a pint of cookies-and-cream ice, cream watching my third episode ofThe Originalson Netflix, when I hear Hadley’s bedroom door open and her footsteps down the hallway.

“Okay, that’s it. Get your ass up. I’ve let you mope around for a week, now get up.”

“Hadley, just leave me alone right now.”

She stands in front of the television with her arms crossed. She makes a better door than a window because she blocks my view of the Mickaelson brothers on the screen.

“No.”

“I don’t feel like going anywhere.” I sulk further into the couch.

“Well, tough shit. Come on; I let you have your time, and now it’s time to get back up. Don’t make me kick your ass.”

She lifts her fists to her face as if she’s ready to throw a punch, in two-inch stilettos. I can’t hold back my laughter, but then her stance reminds me of how much Ben loved theRockymovies and when he forced me to watch a marathon the other week. The smile fades from my face, and I choke on the tears threatening to spill. I don’t even remember feeling this broken when Dominic and I split up.

“Will this ever get easier?” I set the ice cream down on the table.

Hadley takes a seat next to me on the couch, straightening out her romper.

“Lex, I promise it will get easier. Okay? Let’s just go out and get some fresh air. We don’t have to stay late—just a change of scenery. What do you say?”

A change of scenery? Looking like this? I have only been to the office and back home—and, of course, stopping along at the liquor store to pick up more wine.

“There’s no getting rid of you until I agree, is there?”

I look up at her, and she is grinning widely. “Nope. I would then be betraying my duty as a best friend. So come on.” She stands and pulls me reluctantly to my feet. “Let’s go get you hot.” She spanks my ass and shoves me toward my room.

As much as I hate to admit it, Hadley is right. I need to get out. I need to move on.But how do I move on when Ben still holds all of the pieces of my heart?

“Now you go shower.” She all but pushes me into the bathroom.

“Are you going to watch me shower?”

She checks her reflection in the mirror before leaning against the counter with her arms crossed.

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