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Damien broke my heart so much that settling actually sounded nice. I knew Liam’s apology was sincere, and he would probably never betray me again. It’d been almost a year since we went our separate ways, and he still wanted me back. He wouldn’t feel that way unless I was important to him. He could have any other woman he wanted, and he could have moved on by now if he wanted. Being single sucked. Most of the guys I met were losers, and the one I actually liked was a player who ripped me to pieces. Could I ever put myself out there again?
Liam studied my expression like he hoped I would finally give him what he wanted.
I picked up my clutch and fished out the cash to pay for my drink.
Liam quickly threw a ton of cash on the table. “Let me take you home.”
I didn’t bother with the money dance even though I didn’t want him to pay for my shit. “Thank you, but I’m okay.” I excused myself from the table and walked out of the bar, not looking back as I craved the cool air outside the double doors.
When I reached the sidewalk, I realized he was right behind me.
“Anna.” He moved around me and blocked my path. “Come on.”
“I don’t need a ride, Liam—”
“Then I’ll walk with you. But I’d rather drive.”
I knew this confrontation would only end in one way—his way. “Fine.”
He drove me to my apartment, and of course, he insisted on walking me to the front door. He didn’t accept my arguments and just did whatever he wanted.
I got the key in the door and opened it.
He didn’t try to come inside. With his hands in his pockets, he leaned against the doorframe, halfway inside my apartment and halfway out. “Moving anytime soon?”
“Yes, my place is a dump. You’ve made that clear, Liam.”
“That’s not what I said.”
I set my clutch and keys on the table and turned back to him. “I got a new job a couple weeks ago.”
“Yeah?” He smiled slightly. “Good. I hated knowing you were waitressing.”
“What’s wrong with waitressing?”
“Nothing. I just don’t want you to do it.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Where’s your new gig?”
“I work in the office at Tuscan Rose.”
He nodded in approval. “That sounds nice.”
“I like it. I’ll be able to afford a new place soon.”
“You know…you could afford a new place now.” The intent in his eyes was obvious.
“Liam.”
His expression hardened.
“Why do you keep trying? And don’t say it’s because you love me or miss me.” I’d rejected him plenty of times, and it gave me no pleasure to do it. But just when I thought he was really gone, he turned up again. He refused to go away.
His gaze moved down the hallway for a minute as he pondered the question. When he had a good response, he turned back to me. “You don’t realize what you have until it’s gone, you know? I’ve lived in that big house alone, your ghost haunting every room, every lonely night. Sometimes I would spray your perfume just so it felt like you were in the house. And when you refused my money…it hit me hard. The women I meet want my money. They want me to go back to death fighting because they think it’s sexy. The fact that you don’t want anything from me just makes me realize…you loved me for me. I’m never going to find that again.”
I’d loved him before he was rich. I’d loved him when he was just like everyone else. When the money poured in, it didn’t change the way I thought about him. I loved him exactly the same, wanted to have his kids because of love, not because he could provide for them or give them a good life.
He looked at the ground for a while, his fingers moving over the back of his hair. “I shouldn’t have had to lose you to really understand that, but that’s how we learn the hardest lessons…with the most pain.” He raised his head and looked at me again. “And I think you’ve learned the same thing. That there’s no man out there who’s gonna love you as much as I do, because I’m still here, still fighting for you, and that other guy has already forgotten you.”
His last statement hit me the hardest because I was terrified it was true. Every night together…did that mean more to me than it ever did to Damien? He hadn’t contacted me since the night he’d dumped me, so it did seem like he’d forgotten about me. “Good night, Liam.” I should brush off Damien and stop caring about someone who didn’t care about me, but it was hard…really hard.
Liam straightened at my dismissal, the disappointment obvious in his eyes. “Good night, Anna.” He stepped back from the doorframe and walked down the hallway.
