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He threw out his hands. “I can’t win here, can I?”
She straightened her spine. She’d messed up, and there was no way she could ever explain it to him that he’d understand. She hardly understood it herself, but she owed him the truth, even if it was too late. Her voice was softer as she spoke to the harsh mask of his face.
“You’re probably the only one who’s ever known the real me. For a little while that meant the rules didn’t apply to us. We could create our own rules in our own little world. I thought maybe you and I—God, I’m sostupidsometimes. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip. Good luck at the contest, and well, the rest of your life. Goodbye, Xavier.”
She walked towards the exit before he could utter another word, knowing full well that with every step she was walking away from one prison and into another.
Chapter Nine: New Haven, Connecticut
The law forbids any private sexual behaviour between consenting adults.
She hadn’t been kidding.
When Hope had called her home a mansion, Xavier had assumed she’d been exaggerating. Obviously not.
The three-story mansion was massive, but it was nothing compared to the acres of manicured gardens that surrounded it. The fact that he’d passed Yale University on the way meant it wasn’t exactly a working-class neighbourhood.
For the fiftieth time that hour he rethought his decision to come here. Hope had been adamant that it was over, that their fleeting time together had received an unequivocal full stop. She was probably right, but Xavier wasn’t smart enough to take the hint.
The end of any of his other relationships meant he’d already be on the search for the next one. That’s how serial monogamy was meant to work. Yet here he was, doing something he’d never done before, chasing after the race was done.
Perhaps it was how they’d ended. There had been no time to gather his thoughts when she’d told him out of the blue that she was leaving him behind. Their cross-country adventure together was done. He’d been shocked and bitter. Things were said he regretted, spiteful, hurtful things.
Hope said what they’d had was a beautiful fleeting thing, and they were over. He couldn’t have their last moment together tainted by his bitter words spiralling around them. They deserved better than that. She deserved better.
It was almost certain she’d send him packing with a slap to the face. Nonetheless, he had to try. Hope was too important for him to simply let go. He knew he’d regret it for the rest of his life if he didn’t.
His feet crunched the pebbles of the driveway. One hundred yards from the house, Xavier’s phone vibrated in his pocket. Maybe Hope had reconsidered and called to say she couldn’t wait to see him. He looked at the display. No such luck. Reluctantly, he answered.
“Hi, Stavros.”
“Xav, my man. How’s my favourite client?”
That was a lie. Stavros Burros had one of the largest sports talent agencies in Australia.
“Uh, good. Look, I’ve been meaning to call you.”
“No need, my friend. No need. I’m at the registrations desk awaiting your dazzling pearly whites.”
“You’re in L.A? Jesus.” Xavier rubbed his hand over his face.
“I love you, too, big fella. Where are you? Registrations close in half an hour.”
“Uh, Stav, I don’t think I’m going to make it.”
“Don’t tell me you’re still at the hotel?”
“Okay, I won’t tell you that.”
The line was silent for a moment. “Xavier, where are you?”
“Would you believe Connecticut?”
More silence. “If I believed that, I’d also have to believe one of my best clients, who, I might add, I’d just flown halfway across the globe to see triumph on the international stage, had just pissed his single greatest opportunity of his life up a wall. Is that something I should be believing?”
“I’m sorry. I had no idea you were coming. I meant to call, but things have come up, important things.”
“More important than your career? More important than what we’ve been working together on for years? More important than me?”
