But she just nods once and slips out, leaving nothing but the ghost of her warmth beside me and the faint scent of vanilla in my sheets.
This is what she wants, I tell myself.This is what she chose.
Even if letting her go feels like losing something I never knew I needed.
24
TARA
As the Spencers' week in Mountain Springs winds down, I’ve been taking extra shifts at Luzia. More shifts mean less time for awkward family events, fewer stolen glances across crowded rooms, and way more tips.
It’s a win-win.
There’s just one last thing standing between me and freedom—brunch.One final, perfectly arranged Spencer gathering where I’ll play the role of devoted fake girlfriend one last time. After that?
It’s over. Done.
Squashed like a tiny, insignificant bug.
Good.
Because I can’t do this anymore. The other night was amistake.
Okay, fine, we’ve made a few mistakes. But that was the last one. It has to be.
We are not right for each other.
We arenotright for each other.
I repeat it like a mantra, trying to make myself believe it. Because after tomorrow, we’ll go back to what we were before—barely friends, semi distant acquaintances, just a footnote in each other’s lives.
It’s better this way.
It’s definitely better this way.
But when I close my eyes, all I can see is Alfie on his knees, mouth between my thighs, wrecking me like it is his only purpose.
I’m wiping down glasses when I catch Becky’s sharp intake of breath. “Oh no.”
I follow her gaze and my stomach drops. Drake leads the parade guiding a little group to the best table in the house. Mrs. Spencer, perfectly dressed in an outfit that makes me a little envious, Lisa hanging on Drake’s arm, and Marcie.
Of course, they brought Marcie.
She looks stunning, obviously.
Alfie appears last, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else. When our eyes meet, his expression is almost apologetic.
Earlier today, after we agreed to stop fake dating, he told me they were leaving tomorrow. That we wouldn’t have to pretend again.
We may have also had freakin’ mind-blowing sex before that—sex Istillcan’t stop thinking about.
“I’ve got this section,” Becky says quickly. “You take bar tonight.”
“No.”
James materializes beside us, making me jump. “Tara will handle the VIP section. Including ourspecial guests.”
“James, please?—”
