Page 31 of Let Me Love You
She didn’t know if she was more angry or embarrassed. Both emotions twisted her gut.
She couldn’t believe this was happening.Thiswas exactly why a relationship with Ren would not work. Shannon would never talk to her again and would probably tell the whole neighborhood. Juliet and Mary from across the street would glare at her every time she walked to the curb to get her mail. Donna, four houses down, would whisper to her husband every time Stacey would jog past her house. This was a neighborhood of gossip. When Randy left her, they all looked at her with pity, propping her up with positive words to make her feel better. Now, they’d tear her to shreds.
“I’m not leaving him here,” Shannon said, the defensive tone of her voice ringing through the house. She sounded as if Stacey were a predator and Ren needed protection.
“Mother, go home,” Ren said. “I’ll be there later to talk with you.”
“Let’s go, Shannon.” Jay steered her out the front door, down the porch steps, and across the lawn. Shannon could still be heard arguing with Jay and questioning his understanding of the situation.
Stacey slid down the wall until her backside hit the hard floor. Resting her forehead against her knees, she wrapped her arms around her legs and cried.
The tears flowed like a river feeding the sea. She’d been numb for months, forcing herself to feel little, walking around like a zombie fromThe Walking Dead. And despite knowing this fling with Ren could go nowhere, she couldn’t deny this was the most alive she’d felt in years. But it was over now.
As was her friendship with Shannon.
The front door clicked closed, and Ren’s bare feet slapped the floor. He knelt next her, trying to gather her in his arms. “I’m sorry, Stace. I should have talked to her yesterday when I had the chance.”
“Stop!” She lifted her head and yanked her arm from his grasp.
“Stacey, please.” He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t want her to find out this way. I wanted to tell her.”
“Tell her what? That you’re fucking me? Do you honestly think that would go over any better? That she wouldn’t have marched over and attacked me the moment those words burst from your lips?” She sniffled and wiped tears with the back of her hand.
“I screwed up.” He lowered his head.
“We both did. This shouldn’t have happened. Your mother has every right to be angry. I caved in several moments of weakness. This is done.”
“Bullshit!” His hand balled into a fist and he hit the wall next to her head. She startled. She’d never seen him angry or take a swing at anything. The punch hadn’t been hard enough to crack the drywall, but his point was made. Lifting his head, he pinned her with his narrowed eyes. “I’m not going to pretend there is nothing between us.”
“I’m afraid you have no choice.” She wished she could say the words with more confidence. Despite her best efforts, she had to admit she was falling for Ren. Which was another reason this had to end. And end now.
“What, exactly, are you saying?” He brushed her burning cheek with the back of his hand.
She recoiled at his touch, shoving his hand away. Just another reminder of how screwed up this situation had become. “It’s over. This can go nowhere.”
“Don’t push me away. I’m not going anywhere. Do you understand that?”
She struggled to her feet, and he followed suit. He settled close to her, mere inches away, his masculine beachy scent swarming her like a bunch of angry bees. She had to hold her ground. The only way to make things right would be to force him away. Even if it broke her heart.
“This—us—was a mistake. A huge mistake.”
He flinched. The helpless look on his face pained her. “Don’t say that.” He ran his fingers through his hair and paced in front of her. “I want to be with you. You want to be with me. We can make this work.”
“You can’t be serious.”
He stopped moving, placed his hands on his hips, and stared at her. “I’m more than serious.” A severe look shone in his blue eyes even through the tears. That almost broke her. In all the years of knowing him, she’d never seen him cry.
None of this had been thought through. Most importantly, she hadn’t even considered that he could be in hurt. She’d been so wrapped in her own concerns, she missed the possibility that her actions might harm him.
“I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life.”
“You’re willing to ruin your relationship with your mother? To be with someone that will never be accepted by your family? Or your friends, for that matter? Let’s just chalk this up to what it was.”
“And what was that?” He narrowed his eyes, his brows lowering, but his bottom lip quivered. The movement was slight, but she noticed and it almost made her change her mind and swallow her words. Almost.
“You nailed an older woman. It’s been fun! Move on!”
“You think this is some fantasy of mine?” He shook his head. “You’re unbelievable. Do you think I’d be back after Saturday if this was just about getting in your panties? Honestly. You know my reputation. I’m rarely back for seconds.”
