Page 33 of Defending her Heart

I back up, putting a grouping of tables between us. “You’ve called me a slut. Twice. Your previous apology is null and void. Your words are meaningless, Nash Humphries.”

He glances at the open door and shoves his hands in his pockets. “Can we talk about this somewhere else?”

“I don’t want to be alone with you. I don’t trust you.”

“Understandable.” He nods in agreement. “Can we walk and talk?”

“It’s raining.”

“Will you meet me at the coffee shop across the street?”

“I don’t drink coffee at four o’clock in the afternoon.”

“I’ll buy you tea.”

Damn. A hot tea from the Boston Tea Party does sound good right now. “I don’t know.” I hate myself for caving.

After learning of Jason’s deception, I never gave him the chance to explain himself. There was no need. He was married with two kids. He lied about his marriage. One that he was not leaving and made me the other woman. There was nothing he could say to make me forgive him, not even if he swore he’d leave his family. The fact that he had an affair with me for two years proved what kind of man he was.

I shouldn’t care about Nash’s apology or his stupid fucked up reasoning for treating me the way he did. I’m ashamed I gave him a second chance. A third? Well, fool me once and all that shit.

“I’ll be across the street. I hope you’ll join me and give me a chance to apologize again. Even if I don’t deserve it.” He lowers his gaze to the floor and leaves.

Damn. If he said he wanted toexplainwhy he was an ass, it would be easier for me to refuse. But admitting he doesn’t deserve forgiveness, well, that makes me kinda-sorta-maybe wanting to hear what he has to say.

Not that it will make a difference. I still don’t trust that there isn’t a motive behind the apology. It’s more likely he wants to keep me on retainer for bailing him out when his parents are unable to watch Paisley.

If they do get sick again, what will he do? Call a stranger? Or a babysitting service like I threw at him? He has to have connections with his teammates. Many of them are married and have children.

It’s his own stubborn pride that is getting in the way of reaching out to another player to ask for help. Although, wouldn’t it wound his pride more to reach out to me? A relative stranger up until a few weeks ago. A stranger who he’s offended on more than one occasion and one he knows is ready to chop his balls off.

I fuss about my classroom to stall for time. Meeting him will send the message I’m ready to forgive him. I’m not. He hurt me. It’s crazy how words from someone I barely know can cut so deep.

I broke down and told Rowan about the parking lot kiss the other day and made her promise not to tell Riley. She agreed that it could stir some hostility between Walker and Nash and has kept mum. Needing her advice, I take out my phone and call her, hoping to catch her between patients.

“Hey. What’s up?” she answers, out of breath.

“Either you're running late or in the middle of a sex marathon. For your sake, I hope for the latter. For mine, I pray you didn’t put a pause on your sexual escapades to answer my call. You’ve gone too long without a guy in your life.”

“Pot. Kettle. And it’s the stairs. Ew. No offense, but I’d never pick up a call during sex. At least I don’t think I would. It has been a while.”

“Tell me about it. I’m chasing your dry spell with my own.”

“I take it Nash hasn’t tried to kiss your ass?”

“Actually, that’s why I’m calling.” I fill her in on his impromptu visit and his request.

“How long have you kept him waiting at Boston Tea Party?”

I check the clock on my classroom wall. “Twenty minutes and counting.”

“How long do you plan on making him wait?”

“You’re assuming I’m going to meet him.”

“You’re not curious as to what he has to say?” Rowan’s heavy breathing has slowed, and I can make out the tell-tale sounds of the hospital.

“Hell yeah, I am. Do I want him to see me cave so easily without groveling? Hell no.”

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