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Glutton for pain and punishment, that is what I am.
“Shit.”
Yanking the pillow out from under my head, I groan and toss it over my face.
“Shit,” Alessandra repeats. “Braydon.” She nudges me in the ribs and I groan again. “You need to get up. You need to leave.”
I push the pillow down and squint as light from the bathroom steals my vision. “What?” I ask, sleep thick in my voice.
Alessandra tugs her jeans up her legs, then yanks a shirt from its hanger before slipping it over her head. “We fell asleep. It’s morning. Some of my staff are already here.”
At this, I bolt up and hike the sheet to my navel. “What? Where?”
Peering over her shoulder, she rolls her eyes. “Not in my apartment, crazy. Downstairs.” She shuffles into the bathroom and brushes her hair. “Everyone parks out back.” She secures her hair in a ponytail then pins me with wide, fearful eyes. “Your car is out back.”
I whip the sheet off, swing my legs over the edge, and rise from the bed. One article at a time, I gather my clothes and slip them on. Amble into the bathroom, wrap my arms around her waist, and kiss the side of her neck. Watch her in the mirror as she applies a light layer of makeup. I don’t need my glasses to know that Alessandra doesn’t need any; she is beautiful either way.
“Everything will be fine.”
After a swipe of lip gloss, she steps out of the bathroom. I close the door and go about my morning business. Once I wash up and borrow her brush to tame my sex hair, I exit and go in search of her.
Alessandra bounces by the door, the tip of her thumb between her teeth. I slip my shoes on, step up to her, and hold her at arm’s length.
“You go out first. Make sure the coast is clear. I’ll peek out and you wave me down.”
Her head bobs while she stares off into the distance. “Yeah. Okay.” My favorite shade of blue pins me in place. “That should work.”
Before either of us takes another step, I lean in and press my lips to hers. Sticky gloss paints my lips, but I don’t care. I need one last taste of her before the facade slips into place. But as quickly as I go in for the kiss, she breaks it.
She twists the knob and pulls the door open. “Lock the handle please.” Then she disappears.
The cold from last night filters back in. Yes, we are not a couple. Yes, doing the overnight thing is not really part of the deal. So, I get why she is in freak-out mode. But damn, her dismissiveness is like a punch to the solar plexus. One hit and I am done.
I suck in a slow, steadying breath. This serves as a reminder of why I no longer do serious relationships. It was wrong for me to come here every night. To slip into her bed and connect more with Alessandra. Each time our lips met, each time we connected physically, she cracked the walls around my heart. The walls that kept the hurt out.
I’d let a piece of her slip through the cracks. Now, I will pay the price. Because she appears completely unfazed by my leaving.
I peek out the door to see a wide-eyed Alessandra. She waves me down. I lock the door, pull it shut, and trudge down the stairs. When I reach the bottom, I breeze past her for my car. Hit the button on the fob and unlock the door. Grab the handle and yank the door open.
“See you later?” she asks.
My eyes look everywhere but at her. I give a noncommittal shrug. “Maybe.”
Then I slip behind the wheel, crank the engine, and back out without a second glance in her direction. If she wants to be cold, I will give it right back. Because this time tomorrow, I leave Lake Lavender. I leave her. And there is no turning back.
CHAPTER16
ALESSANDRA
Achill rolls down my spine and I shiver. I hug myself and rub my hands up and down my arms through the thin sweater. The chill has nothing to do with the dip in temperature and everything to do with not seeing Braydon the rest of the day.
No matter how I spin it, something about the way we parted this morning doesn’t sit right. Was I short with him as I bustled to get ready? Yes, but it hadn’t been intentional.
Waking up and seeing the time, knowing I should have already been in the office crunching numbers or in the dining room prepping for the day, I panicked. The last time I woke up late for work, I didn’t own Java and Teas Me. I’d worked at Lakeside Grocer, the town’s family-owned grocery store, and I’d been ten minutes late. Ten minutes is nothing compared to two hours and the whole staff depending on you.
I spot Lena’s car as she pulls into the parking lot of Black Silk. As I exit my car, Geoff drives into the lot and drops Mags off near the door. Lena and I converge and stroll up to meet our friend for girls’ night. After hugs, we head inside.
Conversation and dinner go by in a blur. I hear everything my friends are telling me but don’t absorb a word. Can’t. Not with the nauseating twist beneath my diaphragm.
