AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She’s quiet for several seconds until the pieces click into place. “Recently… How recently are we talking?”
I don’t say anything. I just look into her innocent doe eyes because I’m an asshole who doesn’t deserve her.
“Oh.” She looks down at the bed and fidgets with the sheet.
“Since coming here, I’ve been able to write about ninety percent of my book. I hadn’t written a word for a few months before that,” I admit.
“Really? Well, that’s great!” I can tell she’s genuinely happy for me, but there’s a subtle sadness in her eyes too. “I’m glad being here was helpful then.” A small smile tips the corners of her mouth.
My gaze softens. “Being with you was helpful. I’m almost finished with the book. I just can’t figure out how to end it.”
She chews her lip as she plays with the bedding. “Not everything has to end, you know.”
I laugh and roll to my back, crossing my arms behind my head. “Books do.”
“Okay, yeah. That’s true. Booksdoneed to end. But didn’t we talk about an ending last night? I thought you liked the idea I gave you?”
“I did. Ido. It’s a good ending,” I profess. “But it feels… too much likeyouand not likeme.”
“So, make it yours then,” she quips, as if it’s that easy.
I sigh and drag a palm over my face. “I don’t know, Teddie.”
“Or stay longer!” Her voice raises an octave. “Then we can brainstorm some more. I’m sure if we had more time, we could—”
“Vacations end too, Teddie.” My tone isn’t unkind, but my heart squeezes when I glance over and see her crestfallen expression.
Her voice is small when she replies, “I thought you said you could work from anywhere. I didn’t think staying a few more weeks would be a big deal.”
“It’s not.” Her eyes spark with hope and it physically pains me to watch that spark die when I continue. “But I need my life. And this…” I gesture around us. “…could never be it.”
Teddie rears back like she’s been slapped, with obvious hurt written all over her face. I want to comfort her, tell her I didn’t mean it as harshly as it sounded. But I don’t want to send her mixed signals either. No, it’s better this way, ripping the Band-Aid off in one swift pull.
She blinks away her tears as she stares at me like I’m a total stranger rather than the man who’s shared her home—and a bed—for the past four weeks. A block of ice forms in my stomach and I feel like the biggest dick to ever walk the earth. When she gets out of bed and covers her body as if she can’t bear to be vulnerable with me anymore, a thick shroud of shame washes over me.
“Wait, Teddie. You don’t need—”
“You know what, Nate?” Her voice is harsher than I’ve ever heard it, and it makes me flinch. “You’re right. You leavingwillbe good for us. Then we canbothget back to our normal lives.” She doesn’t give me any time to respond before she grabs her clothes from the floor and walks out.
I have no right to chase after her. Besides, this is for the best.Isn’t it?But that feels like a lie as I collapse back onto the bed, my words going right out the door along with a certain gorgeous redhead.
Now, I’m really fucked.
10
Teddie
I’m such an idiot!
I knew about his deadline. Of course, I did. It’s the only reason he’s even here. It’s also obvious how stressed he is about it and how seriously he takes his work.
And even after what just happened between us, I can’t stop myself from worrying about the grumpy dope and how this might impact his stupid writing.
Okay, his writing isn’t stupid and that wasn’t very nice, Teddie. But still!
I didn’t leave him in a happy mood—me either, buddy—so, surely, he can’t finish the book tonight, right? Not in that headspace.
I sit on my bed and gnaw at my thumbnail, debating what to do.
