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It's for the best, Danielle. You knew it was a bad idea to get involved with Adrian, but you went ahead and did it anyway. You’ve had your fun, so it’s time for you to go home now.
Except I can’t bring myself to do it. Not with how much this place has helped me already.
In spite of toying with me, Adrian didn’t lie about a single thing.
This place is transformative, and I’ve felt the change growing inside of me. I’m not ready to turn my back on this place and everything it still has to offer.
So, if that means having to figure out a way to deal with Adrian, so be it.
I am not going to let him take this trip away from me, not if I can help it. And I'm not going to be his therapist to try to help him and make him better.
It's not my job or my responsibility to tell him anything.
Chapter Fifteen: Adrian
I push myself off the wall and step into her field of vision. “Good morning.”
“Morning,” Danielle replies, stiffly. She pulls the door shut behind her and draws herself up to her full height. “What are you doing here?”
I shove both hands into my pockets and give her a small smile. “I thought this was a good chance for us to talk. Now that you’ve had the night to sleep on it.”
Or if she’s like me, she hasn’t slept at all.
Throughout the night, I found myself caught in a whirlwind of restlessness, grappling for answers. Puzzled about Danielle's cold reaction.
I'm very aware of the emotional roller coaster she's been going through. That's what brought her here.
I understand the toll her past marriage has taken on her emotionally. It's obvious that she's lost trust in men, indicating the need for a delicate approach in addressing her feelings.
With as much patience as possible.
Otherwise, I risk alienating her even further.
And considering I don’t know why she’s upset to begin with, I need to tread very, very carefully.
She folds her arms over her chest. “Do you honestly think that sleeping has made me feel better?”
“It should.” I take another step toward her, and I give her a gentle smile. “Talk to me. I can’t fix this if I don’t know what happened.”
And I desperately need her to not be upset with me.
Not being able to talk to her and confide in her is killing me.
More than it should. I didn't intend to fall in love with her. It was just a little fling in the beginning. And now all I think about is her.
Danielle gives a slight shake of her head. “If you honestly don't know why I'm upset then there is nothing I can say to make you understand.”
“I would if I knew what it was.”
Danielle studies me. “I thought that you were different, Adrian. I kept telling myself that I finally met a man who knows how to be open. A man who knows how to acknowledge his mistakes and learn from them. But I guess I was wrong.”
I frown. “Don’t you think that’s a little harsh?”
Danielle’s expression shifts and falls. “See that’s the problem. You don't see the problem. So how can you fix it if you can't even see it? I can't tell you how to behave. You have to see it yourself and tell me.”
I take another step and reach for her hand, but she snatches it away. “Danielle, I—”
She takes a step back and averts her gaze. “I’d better go before another one of your guests sees us together. Wouldn’t want to cause you any further embarrassment.”
