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He smiles, but it quickly disappears. “Where are you headed?”
“Somewhere alone.”
“Well, I’d like to come with you, so we can discuss whatever it is youthinkyou’re doing.”
“I’m divorcing you.” I tuck the ring into his pocket. “Unofficially.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re a cocky, arrogant bastard who thinks that the sun rises and falls over this city whenever you want it to.”
“Itdoes, so I need you to give me a better reason than that.”
“Fine. I don’t want to be with you anymore.”
“A believable reason.”
“How about,I hate you?”
“You don’t.” He smirks. “Try again.”
“Rejection never has been your strong suit...” I suck in a breath as he steps closer. “I would honestly prefer it if I was no longer married to Travis ‘The Punisher’ Carter. He’s too much for me to handle.”
“That’s why you’re onlypretendingto be with him…”He closes the gap between us, then his eyes lock on mine, rendering me speechless. “We’re almost halfway through our contract, Tatiana. Tell me the truth.”
“I just did. This is becoming too hard of a role for me to play.”
“Then allow me to cast you in an easier one.” His lips brush against mine, and my heart flutters in my chest. “Pretend like I’m the guy you softly moan about while touching yourself in the shower every night. That guyisn’tme, correct?”
“Correct.” I look deep into his eyes, hoping he can’t tell I’m lying. “He’s not you.”
“Okay then.” He pushes a stray curl away from my forehead, gently tucking it behind my ear. “Just pretend I’m that guy until this is over, and we can easily return to acting like we never knew each other.Again.”
Silence.
It stretches between us for several seconds, unraveling a long string of pain and heartache. The words we’ve left unsaid for years are still tied under our tongues, tragically trapped under seams of secrets that we both have tried to ignore.
He looks as if he’s about to pull me close and kiss me senseless, but a young couple suddenly steps onto the car with us.
Dressed in matching grey fight club gear, their eyes widen at the sight of Travis.
“Oh, my god!” the woman screams. “You’re Travis Carter!”
“The Punisher.” The guy smiles. “Can we get a few photos with you, please? I mean, if it’s okay with your wife.”
“Is it okay with you,Mrs. Carter?” Travis asks.
“Yes…” I can barely hear my own voice as the guy thrusts his cell phone toward me.
I snap a few shots, and then they pepper him with questions as the elevator rises.
While he puts on the perfect performance, the words he uttered moments ago play centerstage in my mind.
“We can easily return to acting like we never knew each other. Again.”
As much as I’ve tried to convince myself that this man hasn’t left an unerasable mark on my heart, the truth is undeniable.
Once upon a time, we were friends to lovers to strangers to…whatever the hell we are now.
