Page 97 of Writing Mr. Wrong

She stared at him. Just stared.

Okay, it was a lot. More than he meant to say. She was processing it. Any second now, she’d smile and slip into his arms—

“Me?” she said.

Annoyance flared but he tamped it down. “You, Gem. I want you.”

“Like, you meant last night to be the start of something?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh.”

She pulled back. Pulled in on herself. He saw the moment it happened. When she withdrew, shut down.

The moment she rejected him.

“I, uh,” she managed. Then she blew out a breath. “Okay, that isn’t what I expected. I think you’re great, Mason, but I’m not—”

He didn’t hear the rest. He was already out of the room.

Out of the room, down the hall, and out the front door.

GEMMA

What the hell just happened?

You kicked Mason Moretti in the gut, that’s what happened.

Gemma dropped her face into her hands and took deep breaths as her brain swirled and her stomach twisted.

She handled that badly.

Oh, you think?

Fine. She could not possibly have handled that worse.

It just… it wasn’t what she expected. She’d woken to feel Mason’s warmth slipping away, and she’d been so sure she knew why, and she’d tripped over herself in her eagerness to let him know it was all right.

To let him know it was fine to leave. That last night hadn’t meant anything.

But it had for him.

And for her? Gemma’s stomach seized.

She needed time. Last night had been incredible, but she’d kept reminding herself it was temporary. Enjoy it while it lasted.

That had been her mantra ever since that motorcycle ride. Ever since she’d started falling for Mason Moretti again.

It’s temporary. Enjoy it while it lasts. Do not fuck this up again. Do not fall for him. He’s not for you.

Yesterday, he’d told her he was ready for a committed relationship, and she hadn’t for one second considered he might mean her. Because of course it wasn’t her. Ha! Silly thought. And if a little corner of her thought it wasn’t so silly, she’d squashed it before it blossomed into anything close to an actual hope.

Sohowdid she feel about Mason Moretti?

Right now? Confused.

And scared.

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