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I take her hands in mine, bringing her close. Her touch sends a wave of warmth through my body, and I realize that this is not just electricity I’m feeling but something much more powerful.
“You’re amazing, Bean. You know that?” My voice is full of emotion, and she stares, speechless.
“Goodnight.” I press a gentle kiss on her forehead before letting her go inside.
“Night,” she whispers as she steps inside and closes the door.
I remain on the porch, staring at the door, burning with need and fighting every instinct not to kick down the door and force my way in.
As I walk to the car, I picture myself standing in a courtroom, waiting for sentencing.
“What do you have to say in your defense?”the stern judge asks as he gives me a beady-eyed stare over the rim of his half-moon spectacles.
“I have nothing to say, sir.”
“How do you plead?”The judge lifts the gavel into the air.
“Guiltyand ready to burn in hell.”
Chapter6
Failure to launch
Sabine
This past week has been torture. I couldn’t get Ryland out of my head, so concentrating on work was challenging. I sit in my office, staring at the clock and waiting for him to call with an update on his date with Margo Raine.
I stop scrolling through my social media feed, suddenly fixated on the photos of Ryland sharing a candle-lit dinner with the actress.
He meets her dazzling smile with rapt attention. A pang of jealousy courses through my veins, intensifying my envy.
The images, now burned into my retinas, add to the sting of disappointment which settles over me like an unwelcome shroud.
A shroud I'll keep tightly wrapped around my shoulders to shield me from the harsh and painful reminder of unrequited love.
This digital self-torture rouses a sense of bitterness I didn't know I was capable of feeling. The situation is all my doing, and I need to get a grip.
After an excruciatingly long wait, Ryland sends a text.
You did a great job, Bean.
My heart tightens.
My fingers hover over the keypad, unsure how to respond. I try to dampen my disappointment, but it settles in my stomach.
The bubbles appear on the screen before another message pops up.
Margo’s nice. I’ve made a new friend.
Friend?
We weren’t compatible, but we ran into a lawyer friend of mine, and the two of them were much better suited.
Now what?
You know what.
Time to pay the piper, right?
