Page 89 of Returning Your Love
My legs gave way, and I ended up on the floor, head in my hands, knees slowly drawing up so I had something to lean against.
At least the tears had stopped.
I stared, unseeing, the only part of my body not shut down being my goddamned heart that fucking ached like never before.
Jesus.
I tipped my head back against the wall, arms falling to my sides.
Now what?
My lungs still inflated on instinct. I wasn’t selfish enough to off myself—Dad would be devastated, completely alone. I hadenough money saved to travel to parts of the world and see all the sights in an attempt to forget about who I wanted there with me.
But yeah, that wasn’t happening.
I needed my dad. Shifting onto my knees, I crawled toward where I’d thrown my coat. My cell was in the interior pocket.
A knock sounded on the door behind me, and I cursed, head hanging. Now wasnota good time.
“Go away!” I shouted at whoever dared to interrupt my grieving.
They knocked again.
Jaw clenched, I stood on shaky legs and stalked to the door. I yanked it open, ready to light into the asshole disturbing me?—
“Jamie.”
I gulped. Chaz stood in front of me, hands in his pockets, gaze wary as he looked over my face that had to be one hell of a miserable sight.
Why did he have to be so goddamned beautiful? How did he still manage to steal my breath and make my chest flutter after all the hurt between us? And where was his new woman he thought would be a better fit than the man who would give up his life for another night in his arms?
I glanced behind him and down the hallway. He was alone. “What are you doing here?” I gasped the words out past vocal cords that felt raw and ruined.
“Can I come in?”
Staring, I nodded and stepped back on autopilot, desperate to have him in my space even if minutes earlier he’d taken a knife to my heart for the second time in my life.
He peered around my entryway.
Discarded clothes and my shoes littered the tight space. I left them laying there, stepping past Chaz, because I needed to sit before my legs gave out.
My ass met the couch, and I slumped, eyeing Chaz in all his put-together gorgeousness. Freshly shaved cheeks. Perfectly mussed hair…had it been that intentional messy or had that blonde woman made it like that when he’d kissed her senseless?
“Babs gave me your address,” Chaz said, walking into the living room and eyeing the other end of the couch. “Hope that’s okay.”
“Why are you here?” I asked, my tone wrecked. My face was probably puffy from crying.
“I know you asked for space, and I should have waited for you to reach out, but I’m ready to move on, Jamie.”
Yeah, he’d made that plenty clear when he’d wrapped his arms around that woman.
“Why show up here to drop that bomb on me, huh?” I sounded pissed. Hurt. Both were so fucking true. “You could have just told me you were ready to try again with another woman. Didn’t need to witness it with my own fuckingeyes.”
“Jesus—Jamie. Shit.” Chaz tipped his head back and swallowed hard. “I’m going about this all wrong.”
I hated that the bob of his Adam’s apple made my dick swell.
“You saw me with Tara,” he said.
