Evan
I’m miserable,and I only have myself to blame.
It’s been a week since Amelia’s party, and she still hasn’t returned any of my calls.
Nikki took pity on me after she found me sitting by Amelia’s apartment door. She let me know that she has been staying at Antonio’s. The one place she knows I can’t barge into.
She assured me that she didn’t think I was cheating on Amelia, and to just give her time to cool off. I always knew I liked Nikki.
I’ve royally fucked up. And LC isn’t helping. I’ve shut everyone out this week besides Rocco. I’ve had my assistant Hayden cancel all of my meetings and have given up on even showering. I’m pathetic.
I had it. I finally had my happiness, right in the palm of my hand, and I ruined it.
I wish I had just sat Amelia down and explained everything, but every moment with her always seemed too perfect to ruin.
And now it’s too late. At the meeting after Amelia’s party, the deal was made. I stay away from Amelia, and her safety is guaranteed. I saw how close Mr. Valentine’s people were getting to Amelia, and I can’t risk her getting caught in the crosshairs, no matter how painful it is to stay away from her.
I’ve lived the last decade of my life knowing what it is like to love Amelia, but now I have to live alone in a world where I know she loved me back.
37
Amelia
I’m miserable,and I only have myself to blame.
Did I really think life was going to throw me a bone in the same year that my mom died, and my fiancé cheated on me? Yeah, no.
That’s what I get for watching all those stupid rom coms.
It’s really quite laughable. To think I would get swooped off my feet and fall in love with my first crush. Stupid me.
Well now my feet are firmly planted on the ground, at Antonio’s place. He bought my excuse about having my plumbing being redone in my building. Plus I think he enjoys having company, even though he wouldn’t admit it.
But I can’t hide out here forever. I need to go back to my place today and gather more clothes, and come up with a plan as to how to act in case I run into Evan. Nikki told me she’s seen him a few times sitting on my doorstep. The visual makes my heart wrench, but I can’t give in.
He’s keeping secrets and lying to me.
I refuse to put myself in that situation. Even if it feels like I’m dying with each passing day that I don’t see him.
I even got a call from Marcos Mirabal.Thecall. Congratulating me for landing the Miami account. The cherry on top? They need me in New York forat leastanother year while the new team is formed. So running away to Miami is no longer an option. Guess I have to be a big girl and face my problems head on.
Annoying.
I can’t believe I got the promotion I’ve been pining for, and I can’t even muster up enough excitement to even tell anyone about it. This is becoming pathetic.
I’m walking down the street when I hear someone call my name. I turn around and I’m faced with him. Ugh not now.
“Hey, I thought that was you,” Sebastián says as he jogs up to me.
“Goodbye Sebastián. We have nothing to talk about.” I turn and start walking away, but he follows beside me.
“Look, Amelia. You have every right to hate me. But I just need you to know that I really am sorry for what I did, there is no excuse.”
I roll my eyes.
“Hey.” He tugs at my arm, so I stop walking. “At one point, we were friends, and we loved each other. I know that I took a massive shit on our future, but I just wanted to properly apologize to you.” He grips at the back of his neck. “You deserve so much better than what I was giving you. And the thought that my actions caused you pain keeps me up at night.” He sighs. “I’m way beyond asking you for a second chance, I’m not delusional. But I just want you to know that I was selfish. Us not working is on me, and I hope you don’t carry an ounce of shame. I know how it works with most of the women in our culture. They try to act as if the woman did or lacked something, and that’s why the man strayed. It couldn’t be further from the truth, Amelia.”
His honesty takes me by surprise. I suddenly feel my eyes watering. He continues.
