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“My whole life is in Brooklyn.” Maybe I should make “understatement” my middle name?
He exhales, loudly. “Then don’t stay. Extend your vacation for a month. See where this goes. Maybe then I could?—”
“I can’t.”
Even though I desperately want to, more than anything, it’s just not possible.
“You can’t, or you don’t want to?” The question is asked with such intensity that I take a step back.
“Believe me, I’d love to extend the vacation, but I really can’t. There’s something I never told you, something?—”
“You have someone in New York? A boyfriend?” His blue gaze turns icy. “A husband?”
“No!” How could he think that of me? I gather my courage. I should’ve come clean earlier, many times over. “I’m single,” I say and take a breath. “But I do have a son, and he can’t just?—”
“A son?” Evan looks dazed, like he’s just smoked enough weed to kill Cheech and Chong.
“Yes. I’m sorry I never mentioned him.” Despite a million opportunities to do so. “I know I should have, but this was temporary, and you hate children, so I just?—”
“Hate children?” Evan’s gaze approaches the coldness of absolute zero. “That’s your shitty excuse for lying?”
My whole body tenses. The accusation hurts all the more because it’s not completely unfair, but has he not heard the proverb about glass houses? “Unlike you with your treasure bullshit, I didn’t lie.”
I simply omitted a little bit of the truth.
“Then what word would you use?” he says in a tone I do not appreciate. “You didn’t tell me about the most important thing in your life. I thought I knew you, but I’m not so sure anymore.”
I grit my teeth. “I thought you weren’t a lying asshole, but maybe I didn’t know you that well either.”
He turns from me. “I’d better go before I say something I’ll regret.”
“Wait.” I reach for my earlobes.
He turns back, and it could be my imagination, but I glimpse a spark of hope in his eyes.
I unclasp the earrings. “I don’t feel right taking these. Not after?—”
“Then toss them into the garbage,” he snaps before he turns away again and strides into his house, slamming the door so hard behind him that I’m pretty sure he’ll need new hinges.
Feeling just like those hinges, I stand there, fighting the urge to run after him. To bang on the door until he opens it, then slant my lips over his and claim one more night. The last night.
But no.
More time with him will just make me hurt all the more. In a way, this fight was a blessing in disguise. We were going to be forced apart anyway, but this made it like ripping off a Band-Aid. Except I feel more like I’m a yeti who is getting a full-body wax.
With a monumental effort, I force my legs to walk toward the rental, all the while ignoring the pressure building behind my eyes.
Once inside, I get ready for bed, even though it’s not even dusk yet. It’s not until I step into the shower that a sob escapes my lips, my tears mixing with the warm water pelting my skin.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Evan
In my house, I slam door after door, and only stop when Harry looks at me worriedly and whines.
Human dude, this is not awesome at all. I’ve never seen you so unchill.
Sally seems concerned also, if the nervous swish of her tail is anything to judge by.
