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“Go away,” I muttered, just loud enough that I knew he’d hear me.
“Let me in, Eden.”
“Why? You decide you left me too much?”
He had. There was nearly triple what he owed me on the dresser. I had no idea why he’d been carrying around nearly a grand in his wallet, but I wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Nate looked up, and even though I was peering through a hole less than a half inch across, his stare managed to pierce my soul. “Please, Eden, keep the money. I just want to explain. If you want me to leave after that, then I will.”
Did I want to hear what he had to say? What could he possibly tell me that would justify him leaving money like I was nothing more than his whore for the night? Nothing. That didn’t mean I didn’t want to know—ever the masochist of my own heart. It was my sick obsession with broken people that had me inhaling a steadying breath before stepping back and unlocking the door.
Nate’s eyes locked with mine, filled with appreciation and something more, and to his credit, he didn’t acknowledge I was standing in my bra. “Thank you.”
“You have five minutes,” I scoffed, trying not to notice that even in his desperation, he still looked like a damn snack.
I failed miserably, but somehow managed not to let it show on my face.
Nate entered the room and didn’t stop until he reached the dresser.
“I’m sorry. I realize now that this might have been taken the wrong way.”
I huffed a sardonic laugh and crossed my arms over my chest. “You mean that I might think I was nothing more than your whore? Yeah, that was a shock to wake up to.”
He turned around and shook his head slightly, remorse written on his face. “That wasn’t my intention. I just wanted to make sure you had enough for whatever you needed.”
“Who the hell are you that you are carrying around that much cash?”
He shoved his hands in his pockets, almost like he had something more than his actions to be ashamed of. “That’s what I came here to tell you.”
I raised a brow, my only indication he should continue.
“Sit with me?” He motioned to the bed before walking over and lowering himself to the sex worn sheets.
Fuck that.
Fool me once and all. If I sat anywhere near him, the likelihood I’d fall into his arms was one hundred percent. Sure I was pissed at him, but I was weak where he was concerned. This man did more than wreck me like he promised. He’d shown me it was possible to do so, and still be cherished—that was until he ruined it, which was what I needed to hold on to.
My eyes might as well have been daggers thrown in his direction as I walked over and sat on the couch. Not that it made a difference. I’d never be far enough away in the same room as Nate, especially not when he was looking at me like I was his lighthouse in tumultuous seas. My soul ached to bottle his emotions and study them later, but my mind was still fucking pissed.
He ran his tongue over his lips and sighed. “First let me say I’m sorry for how I left. I thought it was better for both of us.”
When my arms crossed over my chest I asked, “Where did you go?”
“Confession?”
My eyes widened. “You left here and went to church?”
Nate nodded. “How much do you know about the catholic faith?”
“Enough.” I wasn’t exactly religious, so as long as it wasn’t pressed on me, I wasn’t about to yuck someone’s yum. There was something to be said for spirituality and a higher power I could get behind though.
“I didn’t exactly tell you the truth last night.”
“We didn’t exactly take a lot of time to go over the fine details,” I said, trying to hide just how much that stung. We’d shared so many facets of ourselves—in the bar, between the sheets, he knew parts of me that no one else could claim.
He winced, and I knew then it must be something big. “Still, this was something I should have told you.”
“Well, I know you’re not married anymore.”
