Page 15 of Bad Boy for Hire
“Why didn’t you tell me he was going to propose?” she asked as evenly as possible.
“Because you’d tell Posy and then Paisley would know.” He said it so matter-of-factly, it was like a slap to the face.
“I wouldn’t have told anyone.”
“Come on, May. You and Posy are two halves of the same whole.”
“I saw a ring in your pocket and assumed it was for me.”
“For you?” His eyebrows lifted in a show of shock.
“It’s not an outrageous idea. We’ve been together for two years. Your family practically adopted me.”
“Well, yes, but…” He glanced around before leaning in to say quietly, “We’ve never talked about moving in together. Let alone marriage.”
She stepped away from him, tears of frustration burning behind her eyes. She’d been with this man for two years, and he hadn’t entertained so much as a passing thought that she might want more?
“Marriage is…” He grimaced like the word tasted bad. “I don’t desire tradition.”
“Do you desire me?” She gripped her glass tightly, tempted to dump it over his head.
“Of course.” He took her by the arm and led her away from the music and foot traffic. In a dim corner of the room, he continued. “You told me you wanted stability. Stability is me making partner at the firm. Stability is us keeping our separate residences so that we always have our autonomy.”
He was twisting her words. “Yes, I want stability. But not like this. Not only to be organized and practical. I feel like you’re making the decisions and I’m along for the ride.”
That was partially her fault. She’d needed a safety net, and the Stantons had spread one wide enough to catch her. She’d happily landed there and hadn’t yet attempted to climb out.
She scrubbed her forehead where a headache was starting to form. “You know what? I’m going to call a car and go home.”
“You can’t.”
“I can,” she challenged. Prescott was choosing a comfortable, predictable life. Stability. But May wanted more. She wanted a raw and real partnership. She wanted to love and be loved passionately.
“Terrell is going to announce that he and Paisley are having a destination wedding in two weeks, and we’re invited. It was supposed to be a surprise. I’ve already bought our tickets.”
Of course he had. Leave it to him to assume her preferences and then act on her behalf. And yet, her heart was full. Paisley was like a sister to her, and May was thrilled for her upcoming marriage.
“She needs you there,” he said. “And I can’t show up alone.”
She needed May there. Not Prescott. His worries seemed to be focused on the explaining he’d have to do if May wasn’t there by his side.
The truth was that she and Prescott hadn’t been seeing eye to eye for a while. Love to him was stability and arrangements. Love to her was romance and commitment, with a rich promise of a future together.
How had they ended up in a place where she wanted more and he had exactly the right amount?
But she knew. Because he’d been there when her family had fractured. He’d witnessed the fallout. She’d held on tight—maybe too tight—at a time when she’d needed stability more than anything.
“This isn’t insurmountable,” he said, practical as per his usual.
“Where is May?” came Paisley’s voice over the speakers. She was shielding her eyes and searching the crowd, microphone in hand. “Get up here, girl! I have an announcement!”
“Told you.” He offered a smile and then his hand. “Come on. Act surprised, will you?”
She smiled, but not for his sake. She smiled for Paisley and Terrell. For Prescott’s parents. For Posy. She kept smiling right on through the destination wedding. Up until the flight home, when she told Prescott they were over.
Her biggest fear after her mom died was having no one. Then she learned that being with someone and feeling alone was far worse.
Chapter Six
