“I can do both. I was going to take classes full time. I can work full time instead.”
“But you’ve been looking forward to grad school. And I know it’s important to you to have that education.”
“I can always go back later, if I want,” she said.
I shook my head. This was going to be even more difficult than I’d anticipated. “It’s not that simple, and you know it.” I inhaled deeply, my head and heart fucking aching as if someone had taken an anvil to them. “We agreed that our arrangement terminates along with your employment.”
Smash.I’d just smashed it all to pieces.
“Arrangement?” She jerked her head back. “‘Terminates along with your employment,’” she said, attempting to mimic my distant tone. “Wow, Jonathan.” She took a few steps back. “You’re kidding, right?”
I shook my head.
“Just say it, then. Say the words. You’re breaking up with me.”
I had to stand firm. I couldn’t let this continue. So, I closed myself off to her, adopting the mask I often assumed in business—cold, demanding, shrewd. It was for her own good, even if I knew she’d hate me for it. “How can we break up when we were never together?”
She looked at me as if I’d physically slapped her. It certainly felt as if I had. Fuck, this was painful. It was so much worse than I’d expected, and I was almost tempted to tell her it was a mistake. To beg her to stay and promise to tell Ian about us.Almost.But I reminded myself that I was doing this for her own good. She couldn’t give up grad school—her future—for me.
“Never together?”
I studied her expression, watching as she crumpled but then quickly recovered. She concealed her pain with anger, and I hated myself for it. Hated myself for ever making her think she meant nothing to me. That our time together hadn’t been the best ten weeks of my life.
“How can you say that?” She pressed her hands to my chest. “You don’t mean that.”
I had to make her believe we were over. Unless I made it absolutely clear we were done, she would never move on. And she would move on. She’d find someone else, someone more appropriate. My heart squeezed at the image of her with another man, but I quickly pushed it away. This was the only way. Because the truth would devastate Ian, ruining our friendship and ripping apart their family.
“Thank you for all your hard work and dedication this summer,” I said, adopting a formal tone. “You did a great job, and I’ve written you a glowing recommendation.”
She shook her head and scoffed, her eyes glittering with unshed tears. “You promised.”
“I promised nothing.”
“No,” she ground out. “You promised not to be a dick.” She shook her head. “I thought you were different. I thought I meant something to you. I guess I was wrong.”
She swiped at her tears, squaring her shoulders before turning for the door. I wanted to grab her wrist and beg her to stay. I wanted to apologize. I wanted to… There were so many things I wanted to do. But instead, I pushed my wants aside and focused on Sumner. It was time to let her go.
And then she walked out of my office like the goddamn queen she was. She certainly ruled my heart, even if I wouldn’t admit it. What would be the point? We could never be together, and I’d already let things go on long enough.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Um. What are you doing?” Piper asked from the doorway to my room.
“Organizing.” I held up two pairs of sandals from high school. “I figured a big purge was probably long overdue. And I watched some documentaries on Netflix on minimalism, and I’ve been listening to a few new podcasts. So inspiring.”
“How much coffee have you had?”
“I don’t know.” I sped around the room, folding, stacking, organizing. “Three cups? Four? I’ve been up all night working on this.”
“That’s great, but shouldn’t you be packing? Classes start next week.”
I ignored her question. “God, do you remember these? I wore them every day one summer? Aw. And look at this.” I handed her a picture of the two of us in a “Seniors” frame.
“This trip down memory lane is fun and all…” She held it closer. “Oh my god. My makeup is awful. I’m going to have to post this on my Instagram.”
“Nice.”
“Okay.” She plopped down on my bed. “Now quit distracting me and tell me what’s really going on.”
