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In her absence, Georgia’s taunts rushed to fill the void, and without my pride to keep me upright, I was suddenly so, so tired.
I closed my eyes and tried to breathe through the rapid patter of my heart. I hated how I’d taken her bait before I cut her off with the Bentley recording. I hated how transparent I was to her, and how deeply her words cut when I should’ve been immune.
I’d known she was trying to hurt me, and I’d let her do it anyway.
My hands closed around the edge of my desk. It reminded me of Xavier, which reminded me of what Georgia had said.
Everyone wants to melt the so-called ice queen.
How long do you think a guy like that will stay with someone like you before he gets bored?
The deadline for our two-month trial period loomed at the end of the month. I’d avoided thinking about it because I wasn’t sure what I would do—stay in a relationship that made me terrifyingly happy and risk it ending one day, or run back to the comfort of my solo bubble? That was, of course, assuming I had a choice and Xavier wanted to be with me after the trial period concluded.
What if he didn’t?
That would make things easier for me. I wouldn’t have to choose, and I could slide back into my old life like it’d never happened. Like we’d never kissed or floated in a pool beneath the city skies. Like he’d never held my hand during a race to the hospital or set up a rooftop movie screening on a beautiful fall day. Like I’d never comforted him, trusted him, and—
The world blurred for an instant.
It was so unusual and disorienting, I couldn’t comprehend it. When I did, a reckless shock of hope darted through me, and I reached up, my breath stuck somewhere between my throat and lungs.
My fingers touched my cheeks. They were dry. I blinked, and the world was clear.
Of course it was.
Disappointment and relief amplified the pressure crowding my chest. My office suddenly felt too small, the air too thin. I could still smell my sister’s perfume, and it made my stomach roil.
I needed to get out of here before I suffocated.
Jillian was waiting outside my door when I exited. “Sloane, I’m so sorry,” she said, her expression stricken. “I tried to stop her, but she got past me, and once she was inside, I didn’t want to—”
“It’s fine.” At least my voice was clear.Thank God for the small things.“Please call building security and ask them to place Georgia Kensington-Harris and Bentley Harris on the guest blacklist. I want them to call the police if either comes within a thousand feet of my office.”
“Consider it done.” Jillian worried her bottom lip. “Are you okay? Do you, um, want a doughnut?”
She believed sugar was the answer to all problems.
I almost smiled, but my facial muscles didn’t have it in them. “No, thanks. I’m working from home for the rest of the day. Assign Tracy to oversee theCurated Travelinterview with the Singhs instead.” I gave her a few more instructions before I left and walked to my apartment instead of taking a car.
Nothing cleared my head like a good walk.
I missed Pen. I missed Rhea. I even missed the tiny sliver of hope that my sister and I could reconcile one day, which was ironic considering I’d never felt like I truly belonged in my family.
But there’d been a time when I could pretend, and on days when I was too tired to fight, pretending was enough.
What happened in my office had effectively killed that hope.
It’d drawn too much blood.
As for Xavier…
I entered my building’s lobby and slid into the elevator right before the doors closed.
As for Xavier, he hadn’t given me any indication that he wanted us to end. He’d been nothing but supportive and caring since we started dating; I’d be stupid to doubt him. Right?
By the time I got off the elevator and unlocked my apartment door, I’d successfully pushed Georgia’s taunts to the back of my mind. I couldn’t control how good she was at pushing my buttons, but Icouldcontrol my reaction to her, and I’d already given her more energy than she deserved.
Forget what she said. Focus on work.
