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I reached for her hands, holding them firmly because I was afraid that if I let go, she’d disappear.

“What happened?” I asked.

Something had to have happened. She’d been so warm and happy yesterday. She opened up to me about her past heartbreak, and we made love. I didn’t realize that was what it was because I’d only ever had sex before, but with the connection between us, there was no other way to describe it.

“Nothing at all.” Her voice was still dull and lifeless, but I knew she was lying. “I just think you’re not my type. Besides, I don’t mean anything to you. Not even worth mentioning.”

Every sentence slammed into me, my own stupid, hateful words echoed back by this beautiful woman in a way that gutted me.

“How do you know…”

“I heard you say those things myself. Last night.”

The pressure in my chest was nearly unbearable, and I didn’t know what to do. So, I latched onto the only detail that didn’t place blame on me.

“You were listening in on my private conversation with my daughter?”

The flare of rage in her face told me that I said the absolute wrong thing.

“Oh, I’m so sorry for overhearing a conversation you were having right out in the open. I assumed that since it was right in front of the resort that you didn’t care if the whole world knew how you really feel about me!”

Her hands trembled in my grip, and I hated that I’d hurt her so badly.

“No… you’re wrong about that. I know what I said sounded bad but it’s not how I really feel-”

“I don’t have time for this conversation.”

She yanked her hands free of my hold, and I clenched my fists around air, so angry with myself that I felt sick.

“I’m sorry,” I said, following her to the elevator. She pushed the down button, and it opened right away. Even the damn elevator wasn’t on my side today.

I started to step on with her, determined to keep apologizing, but she held her hand up to stop me.

“Please, Greyson.” Her voice cracked when she said my name, finally showing some emotion. “I don’t want to have this conversation right now. Just let me go, okay?”

I wanted to refuse, to follow her until she listened, but she looked so fragile right now, like she was barely holding herself together. I couldn’t be selfish like this when she was about to go out with her friends. I’d already hurt her enough.

“We’re going to talk later,” I said, taking a step back into the hallway. “I have a lot to say to you, Starlight, some truth that you need to hear.”

She didn’t say another word, just looked at me with her sad eyes until the doors slid shut.

This was the second time I watched her from this side of an elevator, regret sitting heavily on my shoulders. And I was determined this would never happen again.

Chapter Seventeen: Heather

It had been a hell of a day. After a rough night of shedding too many tears and wallowing in self-pity, I woke up in a bad mood that only got worse when Greyson showed up.

It was hard to see him smile at me and call me Starlight after what I heard last night, but I stayed strong and detached.

Or I pretended to be. Inside, I was torn to shreds.

But I got through the day. I went on the hike and did my best to chat with everyone like things were normal. Angela noticed that I was acting strangely, but I tried to play it off as a hangover. She wasn’t paying attention to how much I drank last night, so I hoped it would be believable, but I wasn’t sure she bought it.

Damn twin bond.

Now, the sun was starting to set, and it was time for the rehearsal. The wedding party was going to run through the ceremony on the beach and then eat dinner on the resort’s terrace. I wasn’t needed for the rehearsal, but Leanne did make a point of inviting me to the dinner during the hike.

I almost declined because I couldn’t see myself being in the mood for it. Being social during the hike already took a lot out of me. My heart was hurt, and my pride was wounded. I wanted to feel sorry for myself and that was difficult when there were a bunch of people around that didn’t even know you’d been hurt.