"Lovely. Peter, one day I want to fall in love and be with a guy who finds me attractiveand has a heart that's available to me. That's not you. You still think everyone has aprice."
His hands fell to his side as his voice cracked. "Belle."
She flew past him and opened the door. "Goodbye."
She refused to look at him as he went out the door. As their arms brushed against each other, the sting of sadness hit her hard. She held together and slammed the door shutthe moment he walkedoutside.
Everything hit her at once. She stared into the room and no longer fought to stop the waterworks. Tears rushed down her cheeks, and she sunk to the floor and hugged her knees. One question swirled in her mind. Was it so hard for a guy to ever trulyloveher?
Night grewdarker in the sky, and Belle could barely stand. She used the door to helpher, and her limbs shivered from the cold marble floor. Her tears had dried, but she wassonumb.
Her phone beeped that she had a message. Her heart hoped it was Peter as she stumbled across the room to the coffee table. She wiped her face and picked up the phone. She saw it was her friend, and herstomachfell.
She sniffled and asked,Are you back at thehotel?
Yeah, butaren’t you on a hot and heavy date with Mr.Monopoly?
No. He's goneforever.
Forever? I'mcomingup.
Belle threw cold water on her face in the bathroom. A minute later, a light knock on the door reverberated in the air. She fixed her dress, and with every step to open it, she wished for Peter, though she didn't know what she'd say now. She flung open the door, and her bestfriend must have seen her wash away thetears.
“This is bad. You didn’t even cry over Colt.” Em hugged her and said, "Tell me whathappened."
Belle stepped away from the door to let her in. She closed the door behind her and waited for the lock. Then she felt the flood of tears that threatened to reemerge. She rocked on her feet as she steppedcloser.
"Em, today has been theworstdayever."
Her friend's open eyes just made Belle look away as Em asked, "Why? Whathappened?"
She folded her hands and slumped into the couch. This was too much. She kept seeing Peter's wide eyes as he stood in the living room with her and said he calleditoff.
She sniffled and shook her head. "Peter used me to win astupidbet."
Em's voice was loud, and itpierced through Belle. "Hewhat?"
She couldn't say he called it off while being publicly videotaped for posterity. Every time Colt and Vicki watched their wedding video, the entire Morgan family would remember how Peter had made a bet to date her. Once again, another guy wasn't interested in her, and she had toforgethim.
She hugged her stomach and avoided Em's stares. "Heusedme."
Em sat beside her with one leg on the couch next to her. "Oh, sweetheart. I'm so sorry. You deserved betterthanthat."
She sniffled. Perhaps she was over reacting and should forgive Peter. Right now her entire body felt wretched and numb. Her eyes opened and she peeked at herfriend.
"The thing is, though, he said he calleditoff."
Em shrugged hershoulders. "So?"
The casual shrug was not what she had hoped for. Em should have said 'forgive him because Iwould.'
Belle's shoulders quaked as she said, "So it means he's still in my heart and part of me wants to forgive him so I can see this through. Can you do something for metonight?"
Em's gaze narrowed, and she stood up. "What do you need? Alcohol? We can hit the bar and drink away yourtears?"
A bar might numb her mind tonight. She purposely took out her phone and charged it in the corner of the room. She'd not be tempted to drunk call Peter if she didn't have her phone. Her throat was sore from crying. She liftedherhead.
"Yeah, that sounds good. You knowmewell."
