Page 125 of Flirty Fall Fling

“No,” I confirm. “Who are you?”

“Teddy. The love of Blaire’s life.” There’s an attitude in his words.

“Oh, an ex. The love of her life thing might not be the right title, my man. She’s never spoken about you before.”

He takes a step forward and stops right at the salt line. He doesn’t cross the threshold, but I can tell he’s fucking livid.

“I owe you a thank-you for letting Blaire go.”

“Can I talk to you?” he says to her in a lowered voice. “Alone. Just five minutes.”

“No. What are you doing here? Do you have any idea how unhinged this is?”

“Blaire,” Teddy says, trying to reason with her, “is he holding you hostage here?”

“What? No. You need to go,” she tells him. “I’ve moved on.”

Until Halloween.

I stand where I am with my arms at my sides. I let her handle this like an independent woman, but I’m here if she needs reinforcements.

Teddy looks down, and his face changes. He reaches for her left hand.

“Where did you get this?”

Blaire says nothing as the diamond catches in the glow of the porch light.

“I’ve been looking for this ring for five years.” He’s got her fingers in his, and he’s not looking anywhere other than at her. “I was going to propose to you the last weekend we spent up here. I had it in my jacket the entire drive. I kept waiting for the right moment, and then it vanished. I tore the cabin apart.”

The silence nearly strangles the three of us.

“It’s a sign, baby. One of those little nudges you’re always searching for.” He smiles. “What are the odds?”

I’ve never believed in anything like this in my life, but there are too many weird coincidences piling up around me.

I feel sick, knowing I put that on her.

She pulls the ring off her finger and hands it to him. “I was wondering why it fit so well. Let me return it to you.”

Damn.

“We’re not meant to be together.” Her voice never rises, and she stays completely calm, which is almost scarier.

I give them privacy and walk back inside.

The door doesn’t latch behind me. I wait in the small living room with my shirt on the floor. I make out every other word.

“You won’t give me five minutes?”

“I gave you years.”

“That’s not fair,” he says.

“You drove up here on a whim to interrupt my night.” Her voice stays level. “Go home, Teddy.”

Gravel moves at the bottom of the steps.

“Is it because of that guy?”