Page 43 of My Sweetest Obsession
But even knowing that, I can’t just walk away.
I never could when it came to Ivy.
She finally turns her head all the way and glances over her shoulder at me, and teary eyes slam into me so hard that I practically stagger back.
God, I fucking miss her.
Every single part of my soul screams out to close the distance between us, to pull her into my arms and tell her how much I love her and how sorry I am. But she doesn’t want that. Doesn’t want more apologies that won’t change anything. More words that can’t undo all the damage I’ve already caused.
She wants the life she was supposed to have.
She wants the life Drew promised her and would have delivered.
Ivy shifts slightly, returning her head to the pillow and her focus to the wall in front of her. “I’m just tired.”
I don’t believe that.
Not even a little bit.
She takes her job too seriously and cares about the business and her customers too much to leave early when there’s work to do for something as important as someone else’s special day…unless she truly couldn’t be there any longer.
“Really, Cam. I’m fine?—”
Her voice breaks before she can finish, and a sob slips out.
She slaps her hand over her mouth to try to cover it, but it’s too late. That heartrending sound slams into my chest so hard that I close the three steps between me and the bed before I can even think about what I’m doing.
I drop to my knees beside the bed and reach out, resting my hand on her shoulder. The smoothness of her skin under my calloused palms makes me shiver, and the heat that seeps from her and through me warms every part that has felt so fucking cold and dead since she walked away from me that night.
Don’t.
I can’t let myself fall under this spell again.
I can’t let myself want.
“Ivy, you’re not okay…”
Her body trembles as she sobs again, turning her head further into the pillow and away from me.
Shit.
I’m making things worse by being here, and while I’m relieved that she isn’t ill and that the baby’s okay, this constant agony she’s suffering because of me isn’t healthy for her or the child she’s growing inside her.
I squeeze her shoulder and push to my feet. “I’ll go…”
Her hand slides over my hand and catches it before I can pull away. Trembling fingers curl tightly with mine. “Please, don’t leave me, Cam.”
If I ever had any hope of getting out of here with a single piece of my heart intact, it evaporates with the power of her words and the pure desperation in her voice.
This woman despises me and what I’ve done to her, but she can’t do this alone.
At least, not tonight.
Ivy tilts her head back toward me, her tear-soaked eyes meeting mine. “Please stay…”
Whatever else she might want to say is swallowed by another sob, and she clings to my hand as if she’s terrified of what might happen if I pull it away, while I’m terrified of what will happen if I don’t.
It will be something she’ll regret.
