Page 83 of Welcome Home, Cowboy
Sabrina’s sweet face flashed through his mind.Damn,he was an asshole. Just as much as her dickhead father.
“I’m a loser. A failure,” he continued, laying everything out for her. “In fact, you jumped out of bed with one loser and right into bed with another one. Got to hand it to you, sweetheart. You really know how to pick ’em.”
Julie’s lips parted. He took another drink, hating himself down to the very core.
“You’re nothing like my ex,” she said quietly. “This isn’t you. Just tell me what happened.”
“What happened is I had a wake-up call. That’s all,” he said. “You should, too. I’m no good for you. You should leave.” He pointed to the door.
Instead of stepping toward it, Julie stepped closer to him.
Lawson lifted a hand to keep her away. He didn’t need her hugs right now. He just needed her to leave him alone. “Just go, Julie. You should be celebrating that new job of yours. It’s your dream come true.”
“I don’t want to celebrate without you.” A tear slipped down her cheek. “I love you.”
His throat tightened, anddamn,he loved her, too. Loved her so damn much that saying goodbye to her was going to kill him. “Well, I don’t…love you. I’m sorry, Julie. What I said this weekend, I shouldn’t have said that. We were in the moment and—”
“And you wanted sex. Is that it?” She shook her head, hurt shining in her eyes as she looked at him. He hated himself for that. “I can’t believe I let myself fall for you. I’m such a fool.”
Shrugging, he nodded. “Maybe you should be more careful of who you trust your heart to.”
Julie’s chin lifted. Her lower lip trembled. “Thanks for the advice. I’ll remember that.” Turning, she headed for the door. She was going to leave now. His first instinct was to stop her. To walk ahead of her, put his hand on the door, keep her from opening it and from walking away. That’s what he wanted to do. But that wasn’t what she needed. She was better off without him.
“Goodbye, Lawson,” she said, her voice cracking just slightly.
Then she slammed the front door behind her, the sound reverberating in his head along with the alcohol. He stared after her for a long moment. Then, finishing his beer, he got up and went to get another.
—
Julie got halfway down the street before she let the tears start falling. She gasped for air as emotion overwhelmed her. Had she and Lawson just broken up? For no reason? Had she really been that wrong about him?
She pulled her car to the side of the road and pressed a hand to her heart.
Yeah.She’d trusted her heart to him and he’d broken it. Just an hour ago, everything had been perfect. At least that’s the way it’d seemed. Now her world was shattered. She’d gotten the job, but she wasn’t excited anymore, because she’d lost something, someone, who meant more to her.
She grabbed several Kleenex from the side compartment of her car door, letting the tears fall as she sat there. Then, when her eyes were clear, she took a few calming breaths, pulled her phone out of her purse, and called the one person she’d always been able to depend on. The one person who would never let her down.
“Hello?” Kat answered after three rings.
“Hey, sis. I’m heading home. Can you come over?”
“What’s wrong?” Kat asked. “Are you okay?”
“Physically, yes.” It was Julie’s heart that had taken the beating when she’d sworn she’d never let another man hurt her. Lawson wasn’t the type of man who would, though. At least she hadn’t thought so. “Emotionally, no.”
“I’ll be right there. Do you have chocolate?” Kat asked.
Julie laughed even as the tears streamed down her face. “No.”
“I’ll bring it. See you soon.”
Julie hung up and pointed her Honda Civic in the direction of her home, swearing to herself that this was it—the last time she’d entrust her heart to someone.
Never again.
—
Kat arrived at her house in less than twenty minutes. She walked in, bearing wine and chocolate. And Val.
