“I can’t explain it. Not tonight anyway. Maybe someday.” She seemed as confused as I was. “I just realized tonight that...we’re not compatible. Your lifestyle. It’s very different from mine.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “This is all very funny, Isabel, because I’m unable to agree or disagree with you. I have no argument since you’ve told me so little about yourself to begin with,” I growled.
She winced and I pulled her into me, softening my voice.
“All I can do is stand here and try to convince you that we sure as hell do belong together because I’ve never felt this way about anyone, and Iknowyou feel it too.”
She looked at me bitterly. “You’re wrong.” She turned to leave and I grabbed her arm.
My voice was low. “Give me a reason I can hold on to, baby.” I searched her eyes. “Is there someone else?”
“Definitely not.”
“Then it’s not good enough,” I whispered.
She looked utterly exhausted so I refused to pressure her any further.
I released a deep breath. “Can we at least talk tomorrow? When...we’ve both had some rest?”
She nodded, her head still low and her eyes red.
I lifted her chin and kissed her softly. “Whatever it is, we need to talk about it.”
She blinked but there was no response. God how I wished my kiss would be enough to convince her to stay. “I’ve got something I need to do in the morning, so maybe afternoon?”
She nodded. “Okay. Let’s talk tomorrow. At the park across the street from Blue Reserves?”
“That’s perfect, I’ll be right around there in the morning.”
She swiped at a tear and pulled my door open. I placed a hand over it, stopping her. Still refusing to look at me, I whispered in her ear. “I don’t know what’s going on. But I hope we can figure this out tomorrow.”
With a weak smile, she turned and left.
32
ELLE
I avoideda text from Ron that morning checking in on me. The last thing I needed was a lecture from my old boss when I was no doubt about to endure one as soon as I got upstairs. I guzzled my coffee before even hitting the elevator bank at the lobby.
Maybe caffeine was a bad idea today. My heart was already up in my throat, and I couldn’t breathe. It was the screw up last night.
That had to be it.
I was upset over the screw up.
My stupid—distraction-caused—colossal mistake.
I froze.
I actually froze.
Claudia Heart. Of course he’d findherat the party.
I sighed. Who was I kidding?
No matter the load of caffeine or mascara, my eyes still felt like glass. I was more than tired. More than annoyed at myself. There was a black cloud over me that even the best of problem solvers couldn’t fix.
I was heartbroken.
