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Itfeels likeI’munderwater asIturn, the scene around me muffled and playing out in slow motion.Shaelooks stunned, her gaze fixed onBeau, her lips parted.Thenthose beautiful brown eyes soften.
“Beau.”Hervoice is gentle, so full of emotion, and suddenly, the air is thick.Ican’t breathe.Ican’t watch this.Ican’t be here to witness the moment she chooses him over me.Shewas in love with him back then, andIgot in the way of that.Thefull reality of it crashes down on me.It’snot just thatIstood between her andBeau.It’smy fucking fault she ended up withPhillip.IfIhadn’t stoppedBeau, thenPhillipwould never have been in her life.Hewould never have hurt her.Idid that to her.AndtoBeau.Nowthey know the truth, andIrefuse to be the asshole standing between them again.I’vedone enough fucking damage.
Istride to the credenza and grab my keys.I’mwearing swim trunks and nothing else, butIneed to get the fuck out of here beforeIlose it and start smashing things.
Thiswas a mistake from the very first momentIput my lips onShae.Iknew it.Itwas the two of them long beforeIcame along and inserted myself into their friendship.Nowit’s time to finally get out of their fucking way.
Ijerk the front door open.
“Devon,”Shaecalls from behind me, butIignore the confusion in her voice.ShehasBeauto look after her; she’ll be fine.
Ilet the door slam shut behind me and head for the elevator.
ChapterTwenty-Seven
Shae
Istarein shock at the door thatDevonjust stormed out of.Heleft.Withouteven talking to me.Withoutexplaining what on earth is going on.
Irun to the door and throw it open. “Devon, wait!”Ishout, darting out into the hallway.
He’salready at the elevator, pressing the call button over and over.
“Devon,”Irun to him, not caring thatI’mstill in my wet bikini. “Whereare you going?Whatwas that all about?”
Hisexpression is unreadable.Idon’t understand whyBeau’sso upset.Buthe knows now, so there’s no reasonDevonandIcan’t be together.OnceBeaucalms down a bit, we can make him understand why we didn’t tell him before now.Sowhy isDevonjust walking away without an explanation?
Asif he’s done with me.
Hecan’t be done with me.Irefuse to believe that.
“Devon,”Isay again, laying my hand on his arm. “Pleasetalk to me.”
“Itold you this was a mistake.Rightat the start,” he says, his tone harsh.
Myflinch has his lips pressing into a thin line.
“Ifucked up,” he says, his expression frighteningly blank.
Ishake my head. “Itdoesn’t feel that way to me.”
Hecocks his head, his gaze still cool. “Doesn’tit?”
“Whatdo you mean?”
“Goand talk toBeau,Shae.”
BeforeIhave a chance to beg him—again—to please tell me what the hell is going on, the elevator dings and the doors open.Hesteps in, andItry to follow him, but he gently pushes me back.
“Idon’t want you with me,” he says.
Heatpricks the backs of my eyes. “Whynot?”
“Becausewe should never have happened.Gohome,Shae.Beau’swaiting for you.”
Iwatch, stunned, as the doors shut between us.Hiseyes are cool, his expression almost unfazed.Andmaybe he is.Maybeleaving me standing here, dripping wet, begging for an explanation, doesn’t bother him in the least.Allthe doubtsI’vebeen pushing down, shoving aside, talking myself out of becauseIthought they were based onPhillip’sjealous words, crash over me.Maybe, even after all of this,Ireally was just an easy way to pass the time, and now thatI’vebecome a problem, now thatI’mgetting in the way of his relationship with his cousin—maybe even his band—he’s letting me go.
Evenwith hurt and anger rising like a tide inside me,Idon’t want to believe that.Iturn and rush back to the apartment, hopingBeauwill answer the questionsDevonwon’t.He’snot whereIleft him, soIhead to his bedroom and knock on the door.
