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Because Harry’s more important to me than practicing law in Sin Valley.
And even if he doesn’t choose me back, it’s still the right move, because I couldn’t be associated with Liam and the Paragons and still look at myself every day in the mirror. I don’t want to be the bad guy.
Cutting my engine in the driveway, my eyes drift to theFor Salesign planted proudly in the middle of my snow-covered lawn. I just put my house on the market.
Oh my god. What am I doing?
Here I am again, ready to pack up my whole life and move, on the heels of another heartbreak. I’d like to think that things are different this time. I’d like to think that my reasons are better. This isn’t like when I left New York. When I left New York I was running. But this time, I’m walking.
Walking into a new life. I hope.
With a sigh, I step out of the car and haul the first set of bags up to the front porch. I set them down on the welcome mat then go around to the trunk to grab the rest.
I’m hefting a ten-pound bag of potatoes into my arms when a familiar, schmoozy voice has a creepy feeling crawling up my back. “I never understood why you’d never just use a grocery delivery service.”
I spin around in my driveway and meet the dull eyes of my ex with disbelief. Luke is standing there looking cheap and discounted in an expensive-looking suit. It’s like seeing a ghost.
My neck rears back. “Luke, what are you doing here? And more importantly, how do you even know where I live?”
He rolls his eyes. “Did you really just ask me that?” he says in that condescending way of his. “Figuring out your address was a piece of cake. You weren’t even all that hard to find.”
Okay, fair enough. Luke’s a very good lawyer—finding my address must have been child’s play for him. And I haven’t exactly been hiding my whereabouts.
Still doesn’t change my surprise at the fact that he’s standing here. “What do you even want with me?” I ask, annoyed that we’re having this conversation to begin with. I honestly have better things to do. Like licking my wounds over my husband who doesn’t want me and my marriage gone bad.
A magnanimous smile rolls across Lukes face and he makes the grand announcement, “I’m here to give you a second chance.”
I blink once. Twice. “What…?”
“I’ll take you back, Nadia. I know you moved to this silly little town and you’ve made a huge mess out of your life. And on top of that, rumor has it that Liam just fired your ass and kicked you to the curb. But I’m willing to overlook all that and try again with you.”
My eyebrow jerks up to the stratosphere. “Excuse me?”
His head tilts to the side. “Oh, come on. Don’t be difficult. No need to play these games. I get it. You’re embarrassed. But we can look past your mistakes and just move on.”
“Luke, my biggest mistake was ever giving you a single glance. The fact that I ever dated you completely boggles my mind.”
My ex looks thoroughly offended. “Wow. You never could just accept responsibility for your fuck-ups, Nadia. Admit it. You. Fucked. Up.” He spits out. “Your life has been a mess since you left New York to get away from me. Now here you are, running around after that football player who looks like he’s barely out of college, making a fool of yourself.”
“Why am I even standing here, listening to this?” I’m definitely not interested in a reunion. I spin on my heel and head for my porch. I hear his footsteps following after me. “And don’t you have a fiancée?”
“I’ll deal with Bambi,” he says dismissively as he follows after me. “Don’t worry about her.”
I scoff. “I’m worried aboutyou. Clearly, you’re not well if you think I would associate myself with you in any way.”
Luke brims with annoyance. He tosses a glance at theFor salesign in my yard. “Stop playing this game, Nadia. It’s a cry for help. Come back to New York with me. We can get your act cleaned up. I can get you a little job. Try and fix this fuck-up you’ve become.”
“Thank you, Luke. Thank you so much. But as tantalizing as your offer sounds, it’s going to be a hard no on my part.” I’m not that woman anymore. The woman who would settle for Luke’s scraps just to appease my hunger pains.
I’ve been loved now. By a real man. I know how I want to be treated. I know what it’s like to feel loved. And although I’ve lost the man who truly cared for me, now I know that I’d rather be alone for ever than settle for a half-baked relationship like the one I had with Luke.
Pulling my keys from my pocket, I turn toward my door.
“Don’t do this, Nadia,” my miserable ex calls after me. “Don’t walk away from me. Face it—you’re not going to do better than me. So you might as well stop playing hard to get.”
I push my door open. “I’ve said what I have to say, Luke. So at this point, you’re trespassing. Please don’t make me have to involve law enforcement.”
I’ve got one foot over the threshold when I feel him move behind me, like he’s trying to wedge his way inside. On a scale from one to ten, exactly how deranged is this piece of shit?
