Page 42 of The Rich One

To be that free would be a wonderful thing.

Free from responsibilities.

Free from worries.

Free from feeling so stuck in the life I’ve created for myself. The complications arising from my chosen lifestyle sometimes feel too great.

But those are the thoughts of a quitter, and a quitter I am not.

This is just another one of those blips. I’ll allow myself to wallow in the whole Tyler thing for tonight, but tomorrow is a fresh new day.

Noise from the street below catches my attention and my eyes grow wide as I watch Tyler speaking to Mr. Bobby, moving his arms in an animated way. I can’t make out what he’s saying, but whatever it is, is likely to end up with Tyler in my apartment.

Before I can look away, Tyler’s penetrating gaze meets mine. He then turns and waltzes right into my building.

Fuck.

Well, I’m not getting changed for him. This is my apartment, my space, and my time. He’s not paying for this, so my old Nine Inch Nails band tee—once my dad’s—and sky-blue Elsa boy shorts will have to do. It’s eleven at night for fuck’s sake. Most normal people are getting ready for bed. I hope that’s not what he’s here for. It was hard enough seeing his face crumble last night.

Padding over to the front door, warm bed socks on my feet, I open it, ready for his inevitable arrival. After turning the coffee machine on, I take a seat at the breakfast bar. This isn’t a sit-on-the-comfortable-sofa kind of conversation.

“Rose.” Just one word is all it takes to bring a lump to my throat. The word is full of hurt and confusion, and there’s nothing I can really do to make that any better.

“Hi, Tyler. Coffee?”

“Why is your apartment door wide open? This is Manhattan. Anyone could just walk in.”

“And here you are.” I raise an eyebrow at him as I pour two cups of coffee.

“Fine. We need to talk about last night.”

“I don’t know what you’re expecting from me, but I can’t give you what you need anymore. I can’t be that girl for you, I’m sorry.”

Sliding his coffee over to him as he stands at the end of my breakfast bar, I fidget with the handle of my own cup in front of me.

The crushed expression on his handsome face doesn’t make this easy.

“In another life, we’d be amazing together. You’re a fucking fantastic guy, and some day you’re going to find the perfect woman for you.”

It’s unnerving seeing this successful, confident business mogul affected in this way. He’s lost some of his spark and I don’t like it. I should be flattered knowing a man like him could see a future with a woman like me, but I feel shitty for being the cause of his pain.

Combing his fingers through his already-ruffled hair, Tyler looks defeated.

“I don’t even fucking know why I came here or what I expected, but I’ll be honest, I didn’t think you’d turn me down again.”

“Sorry?” My awkward apology helps a slither of a smile appear on the corner of his beautiful mouth.

I’m really going to miss that mouth.

“People don’t usually say no to me, Rose…” With his head dipped down, he’s looking at me through his lashes, almost apologetically. “But I get it. I’m sorry I pushed it too far.”

Although I’m not surprised, I’m still relieved he’s not being a douche about this.

He sits on the stool beside me, making sure to give me my personal space. Something I know is difficult for him to do.

Coffee cup in hand, I gently nudge his arm with my shoulder so he looks at me before I speak.

“You don’t need to be sorry, Ty. We just got swept up in the act. And now it’s time to move on. Can I be real with you for a moment?” I look at him expectantly, waiting for him to answer.

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