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“I realized after I calmed down that you would have never said what I accused you of. I’m so sorry about that. You’re a nice guy, Trenton.”
The words made his stomach sink. “I wasn’t that nice to you.”
“You only had sex with me because I asked you to. Otherwise, you would have left things alone, as they should have been.” Her head lifted, her eyes finally meeting his. “Trenton, I really am crazy.”
“You’re not.” He tried to move toward her, but stopped when she lifted her hands.
“No, I am. After I left the tavern last night, I went to my ex’s place and the way I behaved… Well, he would be within his rights to take out a restraining order.”
Trenton couldn’t help but be surprised. “You confronted him?”
“In the worst way possible. I was out of control.” She looked down at her hands. “I take after my mother.”
There was such sadness in her eyes. Trenton didn’t know the right words to help fix it. “Celia, I don’t think—”
“That’s why I moved out. I can’t do something like that to someone like you. Not you.” She attempted to smile at him, and his heart squeezed even as she failed. “Trenton, I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for me. You’ve been a good friend.”
He swallowed the lump that rose in his throat. “I enjoyed our time together. I don’t think you’re crazy at all, Celia. You must know that.”
She nodded. “I know that, Trenton. I’m sorry I said otherwise last night.”
He didn’t feel satisfied by her agreement. She obviously still thought the worst of herself. But he realized nothing he could say would convince her otherwise, not in that moment. “You still don’t have a place to stay, do you?”
“I’m moving in with Katie to help during her recovery,” she said.
“That’s nice of you.” Trenton closed his eyes, telling himself it was for the best. If she returned, he doubted he’d be able to keep his hands off of her, and he didn’t want to lead her on again. He needed to stay true to Emily.
Celia shrugged. “It was Malcolm’s idea. Once she’s better, and we get on each other’s nerves, I’ll find a place of my own.” A small smile hovered. “I have a bunch of money saved up since someone refuses to take the past owed rent.”
“I’m not taking money from someone I’ve had sex with,” Trenton said.
Celia flushed. “I understand.”
“So you’re staying?” he asked. “In town, I mean.”
“Yeah,” Celia said. “I like working at the tavern. Unless…” She frowned, looking at the ground.
“I’m glad,” he said, and her eyes raised to his again. “I was worried you’d leave. I didn’t want that.”
“Okay,” she said.
Trenton moved forward, his chest squeezing when she tensed. He reached out to the coffee machine, pushing a different button than the one she’d been pressing when he came in. The coffee began trickling into the Styrofoam cup. “This is going to taste awful, you know.”
“Good,” Celia said, flushing again when he glanced at her. “It’s for my aunt and uncle, and they’ve been making Malcolm do everything, even though they’re the parents.”
He laughed. “I haven’t seen that mean streak in you before.”
Celia shrugged. “I must still be feeling a bit too honest from last night.” She shook her head. “Do you know, he was with a completely different woman?”
Trenton wished he had hit her ex even more times. A lot more.
“I’m angry, but also really, really relieved.” Celia shuddered. “I can’t believe I almost married that man. I don’t regret how things worked out.”
“You shouldn’t. You deserve better.” Trenton handed the first cup of coffee to her, then started the second.
“I don’t regret us having sex either,” she rushed out.
Trenton stilled, memories of what they had done sliding through him.
