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“You’re right, it did hurt me.” She unleashes the emotion that she’d been hiding from everyone else in her expression, and I’m impacted, taking a step back, when she adds, “And that’s exactly why, as much as I really loved our time together, I don’t ever want to see you again, Jackson.”
“Mallory.” I take that step forward again. “Wai—” I say to a closed door.
CHAPTER8
Jackson
Twelve days ago,I left Los Angeles with Mallory. Ten days ago, we’d returned from Muskoka, and that was the last time I saw her. Nine days ago, I made things right with Aria. And yet I still don’t feel any better the following Friday than I did when I saw the look of betrayal cross Mallory’s face last Thursday afternoon.
She’s got her hooks into me.
Even after Mallory saw the message I had sent Liam, she’d stuck by me. That’s theonlyreason Aria forgave me. I lean back in my chair in Keller LLC’s meeting room on the thirtieth floor of the high-rise kitty-corner to Liam’s skyscraper in the central business district of Los Angeles. Sitting around the large rectangular table, I tap the fingers on my right hand against the leather chair’s armrest.
My regular Friday morning meeting ended ten minutes ago but I can’t stop staring at that damn building, thinking about Mallory inside. What’s on her mind? Me? Not me?
I don’t know how to fix this with her.
And Ialwaysknow how to fix things.
“This has to end, Jackson.”
I turn in my chair slightly, finding Aria standing there in the doorway. From her lax position, leaning against the doorframe, I can tell she’s been there awhile. “What has to end?” I ask.
“This punishing yourself.” She steps into the meeting room, shutting the door behind her. “So, we’re going to do that thing you really hate to do.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Which is?”
“Talk.”
I sigh, turning to fully face her. “I take it that I have no choice here?”
“I think at this point, it’s better that I say no.” Dressed in a pantsuit, she takes the seat to my right, crossing her legs and arms. “You’re miserable. You can’t keep on like this.”
No, I couldn’t. Even I know that. Something has to give.
Each day my mood grew darker. I’m convinced it’s confusion. Aria had called me that night after Mallory found out about the email. She yelled at me for a good twenty minutes, without letting me get in a single word. After that, she hung up on me. Apparently, after the call Mallory and Aria talked. Whatever was said between them caused Aria to call me back, and she told me she forgave me and wanted to move on. Without a single explanation from me, so I know that meant Mallory said all good things about me.Thatis what makes what I say next so utterly confusing.
“She won’t return any of my calls,” I tell Aria. I had tried to fix things with Mallory. Every day. Text, email, phone, but not a single time did she respond to me.
“Of course, she won’t talk to you,” Aria says gently. “You and Liam brought her into this game you’ve got going on. And she doesn’t deserve that.”
I sigh. “Yes, I know.” Sending the email was a low blow. Though at the time, I also thought Liam buying Aria was equally as low. That was, until Aria was finally honest with me and told me that she was in love with Liam. Her happiness matters. Of course, I’ll support her relationship, regardless that I have no interest in spending time with Liam.
Aria regards me for a moment then adds, “You have to understand that no matter that you were this amazing guy at the cabin, you proved Liam right about the type of guy you are the second you got back.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “I know that, too. But how can I apologize for it if she won’t talk to me?”
“Because knowing Mallory she doesn’t want an apology.”
I will never understand women. Ever. “If she won’t let me apologize then how exactly do I make this better with her?”
Aria cocks her head, curiosity filling her eyes. “Answer me this: why do you want to make it better with her?”
“That’s a loaded question,” I state.
She nods. “It is.”
It’d be easy to shoot off my mouth but I’m not ready to admit things to Aria I can’t even admit to myself. “I’m not thrilled about the fact that I’ve hurt her,” is what I can admit.
