Page 36 of Love to Hate You

Her words hit me like a bucket of cold water and my heart sinks.Well, alrighty then.I guess I was way more into her than she was into me. I release her wrist and feel like a fool. I’d been making such a big deal out of a one-night stand and apparently, she hasn’t given me a second thought because she’s had better.

Ouch. I’m on the verge of doubling-over from the sickening impact of her words when she turns away.

“Excuse me,” she says.

I think I hear her voice catch as she walks out but, at this point, I’m probably just imagining it like I imagined we had something special happening between us. God, I am the world’s biggest idiot.

Suddenly, I need some fresh air. I storm out of the conference room and Sierra and Tanner’s smiles fade when they see the look on my face.Why do I feel…crushed?

“Are you okay?” Sierra asks.

“Peachy,” I force out between gritted teeth.

Sierra links an arm through mine. “Chin up, big bro. We’re taking you to get some ice cream.”

“What?” I ask as she tugs me toward the elevator.

“Ice cream has healing powers. Didn’t you know that?”

“C’mon,” Tanner says and slaps a hand against my back.

Shit.Am I that transparent? It’s like I just asked my high school crush to the Prom, and she said no.

Ten minutes later, I’m sitting on a wrought-iron chair, biting into a scoop of peanut butter chocolate ice cream, trying to figure out how and where I lost my balls.

Sierra licks at a strawberry topped cone and Tanner works on a dip of mint chocolate chip. When I look up, they’re both staring at me. “What?” I ask.

“You look like someone just ran over your dog, Nash,” Tanner says.

Do I? God, what is wrong with me?Charlie’s rejection has me in a downward spiral.

“What’s going on between you and Charlie?” Sierra asks carefully.

“Nothing,” I grumble.

“But he’d like something to be going on,” Tanner says under his breath.

I glare daggers at him.

“Is that true?” Sierra studies me with wide, curious eyes and I shrug. “C’mon, Nash. Let us help you.”

“I don’t need your help.”

“You’re pouting and I’ve never seen this side of you,” Tanner says. “Part of me is highly amused and the other part of me feels bad because you’re clearly upset.”

“Look, this really isn’t any of your business-”

“We can help!” Sierra insists.

I sigh and lower my cone. “Okay, if you’re so damn smart, tell me how to melt the ice queen?” They both exchange smiles and it irks me. “Just forget it.”

“No, this is great,” Sierra says and claps her hands together. “There was so much sexual tension between the two of you just now, I thought my uterus was going to melt.”

Her words catch me by surprise. “You think she’s interested? In me?”

“No doubt. Tanner, did you see when she checked out his ass?”

Tanner nods. “Couldn’t miss it.”

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