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“To apologise.” I plan on apologising properly when I see her. I’m going to apologise to her all night long.
“Why? We agreed to a weekend.” That was my first mistake.
“We didn’t agree to me being an asshole.”
“Given the nature of our relationship, our professional one,” she is quick to make that point, “it's best you don’t call me again. And stop having Deeks check up on me!” She cuts the call, and I grin at the impatient sigh I caught at the end. Surely she doesn’t think she can meet up with my friends and sever all ties with me?
I ring again, and she answers almost instantly but doesn’t speak. “Can we meet for dinner? I want to apologise.” I rest back in the seat and pull the phone away from my ear, checking we are still connected when she doesn’t respond after a few tense seconds.
“You already apologised.”
“In person. I want to apologise in person.” The silence lingers, and I run a hand through my hair. “I fucked up. I hated leaving your apartment.”
“No,” she spits softly, “you don’t get to do this. I can’t afford to get involved with you aft—” She sucks in a breath. After Martin. She doesn’t say it, but I already know. Once bitten, twice shy. I happen to like the shy parts and all the fiery bits in between.
“And I can’t afford to let you say no.” My smile is apologetic, even if she can’t see me. “I want to see where this goes, Lauren.” I curse under my breath as she stays quiet on the other end—again. “I hate that I'm not there.”
“It won’t work. I signed your policies—a contract. I love my job. I won’t risk my job because you decided you miss metoday.” I know the hurt she is projecting has as much to do with me as it does with her ex-boyfriend and shitty friend.
“Have dinner with me. I’m flying home tomorrow.”
“Cain,” she utters in a cautionary tone.
“Just dinner. Please?” I ask again, knowing if she doesn’t agree, I won’t give her the option to say no. I could quite easily turn up at her apartment. I own it, after all.
“Will you go away if I do?”
My grin is instant—she doesn’t mean that. “I can’t make any promises, but if that's what you want, I’ll respect it.”
She waits a beat before she responds, and my fucking chest hollows when she does. “Okay.”
“I’ll pick you up at eight?”
“Won’t you be jet lagged?”
“I need to see you.”
“I’ll see you at eight, then.” She doesn’t hesitate in disconnecting the call, eager to put the distance back between us, but I feel the tension in my neck and shoulders ease at her agreement to meet.
Perry’s words are sobering, if a little unwelcome.
Sheisgood for me.
I just know I’m no good for her.
Chapter24
Lauren
“This is a mistake.” I groan, plopping down on my bed as Amberley hands me a pale cream shirt and holds it against me, confident with her choice.
“Just see what he has to say. It’s dinner. Lauren, most girls would be bowled over by someone like Cain missing them from hundreds of miles away.”
“He is asking for us to date in secret—that doesn't make me feel good,” I admit, faffing with my hair.
“He can’t fire you, and you won’t quit. Give the guy a break.” Her eyes roll into the back of her head, and I laugh. She leans in to give me a hug. “Look, I’m living my girlish fantasies out through you, so just date him for my sake, please?”
“Of course. What are friends for?”
