Page 98 of The Fake Dating Plan

“You don’t have to eat it. There’s also—” I opened the entrée platter, hoping to get over this first obstacle. It was going downhill already, and we hadn’t eaten yet.

“Why am I here Ax?”

I closed the platter and placed my hands on my knees. “I wanted to apologize.”

She crossed her arms. “Apologize? For what exactly? You are the injured party. I cheated on you, remember?”

“I know now it’s not true. I know that’s not how it happened.”

“And where did you gain such rare information? It must not be from me because I remember you rejecting every explanation I gave you.”

“Chad tol—”

“Oh, so Chad is more reliable than me.” She scoffed. “It’s nice to know you’d rather take the word of some guy over mine.”

“It’s not like that at all.”

“Then what is it like?”

What could I say that would convince her? She was right. After what, not just Chad, but Heron too had told me, I could not ignore the truth. It was obvious she would never cheat on me then or even now. My stupidity had driven her into the arms of another man, and I didn’t know how to explain all of that.

“You’re right. I was—am—a tool for ignoring you and not believing you. I should have let you explain all those years ago. But I was hurting.”

“So was I.”

“I don’t mean it as an excuse. I was hurting because I was an insecure little boy, and in some ways, I still am. Thing is. You have this power over me that weakens me. Makes me succumb to my baser nature.”

“Is this a compliment or an insult?”

“And I like it. I love being under your spell. It’s enchanting and magical, but when I succumb to that base nature, I ruin it for you, us, and our relationship. It’s not your fault. It’s the way I’m built. To be forever a slave to your love.”

“You know nothing about love. If you did, you’d have never left me alone. I was alone for nine years when you promised to be by my side forever.”

I took her hands in mine. “And I was wrong. A fool to do that. And I’m sorry.”

She stared at me in silence. Observing me. I wasn’t sure what she was thinking or if she was in any way considering my apology. It was a slight comfort her hands were still in mine and she wasn’t letting go.

“You hurt me. Not just once. But twice.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want to be made a fool again.”

“I promise you I won’t.”

“I can’t simply take your word.”

“You don’t have to. I will work towards showing you how sorry I am.”

“You’ve hurt me too much.” She withdrew her hands from my grasp, and I could feel her slipping away from me.

“Please give me a chance. We could do a trial run.”

“Trial run?”

“Yes. We could date. For real this time. And if you don’t like us, being together, we can end it. And I won’t bother you again.”

“What about my company?”

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