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Toby’s hand moved to my lower back, pulling me in tighter. My body shivered, but it wasn’t because I was getting turned on…it was because I knew he was here. I felt him before I even looked around.
Tripp.
My eyes filled with tears as I watched him and Mallory slide across the wood dance floor. When his eyes met mine, my breath caught in my throat. I wanted to run over to him. Beg him to forgive me. It wasn’t Toby I wanted to be dancing with; it was Tripp.
I let my eyes roam over him. Tripp held Mallory close to his body. Her head buried in his chest. My eyes cut back to his, but he was looking down at Mallory and no longer at me.
It was really over. I’d lost my chance of ever winning Tripp back. The reality hit me full force. Everything ached. My head, my stomach, and most of all, my heart. Taking a risk, I glanced back at them. The look on Tripp’s face appeared to be pained. But then again, it was probably my own stupid hope that I kept holding on to. I jerked my gaze away.
“Toby, I’m sorry I feel a bit sick.”
“Are you okay? Is it too hot in here?”
“I think I just want to go home.”
He nodded. “Okay, let’s take you back over to your friends.”
I let him guide me through the crowd of people over to the table, but I pulled him to a stop before we got there.
“Wait. I don’t really want to ruin their night. Would it be horrible of me if I asked you to drive me home?”
He gave me a sweet smile. “I don’t mind taking you home.”
“I don’t want to ruin your night either.”
Toby laughed. “Trust me, you’re not. Plus, this gives me a chance to get to know you a little better so I can ask you out to dinner.”
My heart melted. Most men would think this was their chance to hook up, but Toby was being a gentleman, and I appreciated that more than he knew.
“I would love that,” I replied.
He motioned for me to walk first. Corina was the only one sitting at the table. I had a feeling she didn’t want to be here either. She looked like she wasn’t feeling well.
“Hey, are you okay?” I asked as I took her hand in mine.
Shaking her head, she said, “No. I called Mitchell to see if he wouldn’t mind coming to pick me up. Paxton offered to drive me home, but I know they’re having fun and getting to know Maebh, so I told her I had called Mitchell already.”
“I can drop you off at home, Corina,” Toby said.
Her eyes bounced from Toby to me and then back to him.
“Harley isn’t feeling well either so I’m taking her home.”
Her brows lifted.
“It’s not like that, so push those thoughts aside,” I whispered.
She glanced past me, and I knew what she was doing. Looking for Tripp and Mallory. She must have seen them because her eyes turned sad. I knew the girls were rooting for me and Tripp, but they had to see he wasn’t interested in forgiving me, let alone dating me again.
When she looked back at me, I could see it in her eyes. The pain, the pity, the regret.
“It’s okay. I made my bed and now I have to lie in it.” There was no other way to get through this situation unscathed except by facing the harsh reality, as much as that gutted me.
“Harley…”
Giving her hand a squeeze, I forced a grin. “Would you mind telling the girls I bugged out?”
“I’ll let them know. Text us when you get back to your place.”
Corina flashed a look at Toby. “Drive safe, Toby.”
He tipped his cowboy hat and replied. “Yes, ma’am. Tell Mitchell I said hi, and I hope you feel better.”
“I will, and thanks!” she responded with that sweet smile of hers.
I nudged Toby. “Let’s get before the crew gets back and tries to talk me into staying.”
Taking my hand in his, he led me through the crowd and to the exit. My heart was racing for some reason. I could feel the heat of Tripp’s eyes. Glancing over my shoulder, his blue gaze pierced into me as I made my way out the door with Toby.
I wasn’t trying to make him jealous by leaving with Toby, and it appeared by the way he was looking at me that he wasn’t jealous. It was almost like he was relieved I was leaving. Mallory whispered something into his ear. He looked down at her and nodded, before giving me one last look.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I turned before he could see the tear that slipped free and rolled down my cheek. I wiped it away and took in a deep breath of the cool spring air. My body shivered. Toby wrapped his arm around me, pulling me closer. He had mistaken the chill for me being cold. It was actually the truth hitting me right in the middle of my chest. Breaking yet another piece of my heart off. I honestly didn’t know if there were any pieces left. The pain in my chest was the only indication that there was still something keeping me going.
