Page 43 of Fight from the Heart

Not to mention, I’m suddenly wracked with guilt. If they’re still together, and I didn’t know, I slept with him as another woman’s man. After that happened to me with Brendan, I swore I’d never do that to another woman, no matter who she is.

Excusing myself, I take the staircase to the balcony and help myself to a bedroom. Once inside, I lock the door and fall against the barrier. Tipping my head back several times, I will myself not to cry.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

Uncertain how long Jacob will be with her, I curl up on the bed in the room and close my eyes. All I see are visions of them. Her wrapped around him. Him over her like he had been with me. Fighting the pain of them together, I eventually doze off, my systems shutting down with the heartache.

I wake a while later to sense Jacob behind me as I lay on my side. I look over my shoulder to find him on his back, staring at the ceiling.

“What happened?”

“Somehow, she knew I was coming here.” He scrubs a hand down his face and lays it on his chest. His other arm is bent with his hand behind his head.

“You didn’t call her?”

He huffs in response.

“She’s very pretty,” I say, not certain why I’m complimenting her.

“She’s also all of twenty-seven.” Age gap and Malibu Mandi—lucky man. My irritation at her presence grows as I consider how beautiful she is and how young.

“Is she back for marriage?”

“I already told you I wasn’t marrying her,” Jacob says, his tone dry, and I shift to sit up, twisting to face him.

“Oh, let me guess, she decided she doesn’t need you to marry her. She just wants to have you in whatever manner you’ll take her.” This was classic, and I’d almost been that girl once in a relationship before Brendan. It’s another reason I thought Brendan and I were solid. He’d actually proposed to me.

“Lilac,” he groans.

“I promised myself I’d never come between a man and a woman.” I glare at him.

“Stop it,” Jacob snaps.

“What am I supposed to do here? Pretend she isn’t here.”

“She isn’t here. She left,” he says, eyes narrowing.

“But she’ll be back. She’d be a fool not to return for you.”

“Why? I’m no fucking catch,” he snaps.

“Bullshit.” We glare at one another.

“Then catch me,” he says, but I shake my head.

“You don’t like games. Well, neither do I. And this . . .?” I point toward the door. “I don’t play. I’m not fighting some other woman for your attention, but don’t worry, I won’t be giving you an ultimatum. You’re a grown man, Jacob. You can make your own decisions.”

He sits up and tackles me back to the bed. “I chose you. I brought you to New York with me.”

“Where she already lives?” She has a key to his place, which means she’s easily circling within his life.

He leans toward me, but I’m still too raw to kiss him. I turn my head, and he gets my cheek.

“Way to kick a man when he’s down, Lilac,” he mutters to my ear.

Well, how does he think I feel? I’ve just witnessed a beauty queen hanging off him, and I’m wondering why the hell he’d want to sleep with me when he could sleep with that.

Jacob presses off me and scrambles off the bed. Without another word between us, he exits the room, slamming the door, and I flinch. I’m not going to fight with him like her.