She walks out, and I can see that her buzz is gone, and she’s just as freaked out about what happened. She bites her lip as she looks at me, waiting for me to say something. “So, you have a key to the club’s office?”
I stand and fix my shirt. “Yeah, I bought the club.”
Her eyes dilate. “Oh, I had no idea. Cash, I wouldn’t have…”
I hold up my hand to stop her and find myself moving to be closer. “I know. Cat told me she brought you here. Congrats on the divorce by the way,” I say, making small talk.
She worries on her bottom lip and looks away. When she looks back, I know she’s going to try to apologize, and I can’t bear to hear it. I hold my hand up, pushing my thumb against her lip. “Don’t say it, please. Just leave, Grace. Turn around and save us both, because if you don’t walk away, I may not be able to.”
Her head tilts and her eyes soften. “What if I don’t want to walk away?”
I brush my lips against her own, kissing her softly before pulling back. “I don’t trust you and I never will. Walk away.”
Her eyes flash, and it’s like a wall comes down. She lets out a breathy laugh and shakes her head, before muttering, “I can’tbelieveI let you do this to me again.” It’s almost like she’s talking to herself. She looks to the door and then looks back at me before raising her voice. “Icannotbelieve I fell for it again. Motherfucker! You destroyed me.Destroyed me. Despite the fact that I did nothing to you, you left me without a backwards glance. You assumed the worst about me. And then did exactly what everyone I’ve ever loved has done to me.You left.”
I wince at the accuracy of her words. At the pain I finally recognize in her eyes. It’s like being hit by a tidal wave, and my mind struggles to keep up.
“And then because apparently leaving me crying on the ground wasn’t enough, you tore my reputation to pieces. So do me a favor, Cash, don’t ever come near me again. You see me, turn the other way. A man talks to me, and it bothers you, fucking deal with it because I’m not your concern and I never will be.”
Before I have an opportunity to even fathom the words or hurt that emanates from her every pore, Grace is gone.