My lips turn down at the corners.
Shannon sits up on her haunches and grabs my hands, holding them together on my thighs. “I don’t know what happened between the two of you. I only know the tidbits you’ve given me over these last two weeks, but it’s clear you care about him, and he cares about you. Just call him. What have you got to lose?”
I slide my hands free and move my eyes down. I start on those damn buckles again.
“Pride. I’m not calling Tom. The last time I spoke to him, he made it abundantly clear that he doesn’t want anything to do with me. Anyway, even if he has changed his mind, it’s too late. I’ve moved on.”
“Bullshit,” she mutters. “Stubborn, the both of you.” She grabs my foot, yanks it over to her, and finishes removing that damn shoe.
Thirty Minutes Later—Robertson Boulevard, LA
“You wanna grab a coffee?” Shannon asks as we walk toward my car.
“Sure, let’s just dump these bags in the trunk first.”
I unlock my car and pop the trunk. I throw the shopping bags in and shut down the lid.
“Shit,” Shannon utters.
Lifting my gaze to her, I follow her stare across the street, and my eyes land straight on Tom. He’s standing by a black town car parked outside a swanky restaurant.
I can see from here that he looks tired, not his usual pulled-together self, and the beard is definitely making a comeback.
But that’s not the reason I feel like someone is standing on my chest.
No, what’s causing that is the sight of the willowy and very gorgeous brunette who is with him.
They’re standing close together. They look friendly, like they know each other really well.
Intimately well.
She puts her hands on his arms while speaking to him. Tom smiles at whatever she’s saying. He says something back to her, and she laughs.
I hate her instantly.
She lifts her hand to his face and leans in and kisses his cheek.
I stop breathing.
It’s like a car crash. I want to look away but I can’t.
I want to scream too.
But I do neither.
I just stand here, like a fucking statue, watching them.
Tom opens the door of the town car for her. She climbs in the backseat.
Don’t get in the car with her. Don’t get in the car with her.
He starts to climb in.
My heart sinks. I close my eyes, breathing through the hurt.
When I open them, Tom has a foot in the town car with a hand on the roof, and he’s staring across the street at me.
I can see the shock of seeing me here evident on his face.
He’s not happy to see me.
Why would he be? He made it clear how things stood the last time I saw him.
His cruel words come back to taunt me, echoing in my mind.
I’m frozen to the spot, held hostage by his stare, as pain runs through my veins like poison. It’s absolute agony.
A moment ago I was praying he wouldn’t get in that car, now I’m willing him to do just that.
He mouths my name and starts to back away from the car.
He’s coming over here.
Shit. My heart starts to pound a painful beat against my ribcage.
I can’t take another heartbreaking confrontation with him. I need to get out of here. Now.
Adrenaline fires my body into action. I bolt around the car and yank open the driver’s door. I yell at Shannon, “Get in the fucking car!”
Her face jolts in shock. But I don’t care. I just need to get out of here, and I’ll do whatever is necessary to make that happen.
I’ve already got the engine on, and I’m clicking in my seatbelt when Shannon gets in the car.
I glance out the side window, and I see that Tom is trying to cross the busy street, eyes fixed with purpose on my car.
Heart climbing out of my chest and running down the street and away from him, I put the car into drive. With one quick check in my side mirror, I slam my foot down, getting us out of there.
We drive in silence for a long moment.
“You okay?” Shannon asks softly.
I nod, afraid to speak, in case I burst into tears.
“That might not have been what it looked like.”
I take a fortifying breath. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Clearly, it does. You’re in love with him.” It’s not a question.
I could argue or lie, but there’s no point.
“He knows.” I let out a shallow breath. “I told him the morning after our last night together. He gave me a ride home, and before he left, I told him that I’m in love with him.” I feel my bottom lip tremble. I take another strengthening breath before I speak again. “The short version is, he doesn’t feel the same.”
“I find that hard to believe. I saw the way he was with you.”