Page 117 of Bleeding Hearts Duet

David gave me a sympathetic glance and shook his head. “I’m sorry, Brighton. But this isn’t going to work out.”

I nodded and gave him a watery smile. I’d never been fired from a job before, and I was absolutely mortified. Ryland walked on, pulling me along with him, and I didn’t resist this time. But as soon as we were in the parking lot, I jerked away from him.

“I hate you!” I spat. “How dare you come in here and pull that crap. What the hell is wrong with you?”

Tears streamed down my face, and Ryland didn’t look the least bit guilty. He tried to pull me back into his arms. I wouldn’t let him. No way could I allow that. I wasn’t strong enough to fight the comfort he provided right now.

“Brighton, you can’t work here,” he stated. “Let me take care of you. You have a card, I want you to use it. I’ll pay your rent, whatever you want. Just tell me where you’re living…”

“You mean you don’t know that already?” I accused. “I know you’re having me followed.”

He tightened his jaw and looked away. “You make it sound so…”

“What?” I interrupted. “Crazy? Because it is crazy, Ryland.”

“It’s for your own safety,” he said. “I’m worried about you.”

“Nothing is going to happen to me,” I insisted. “And I’m not going to humor these tactics of yours just to put you at ease. You need to let me go, Ryland.”

He looked like I’d slapped him as his eyes fell on mine. “I can never let you go, Brighton.”

“You have to,” I croaked.

“No.” He shook his head. “I know that isn’t what you really want. I can see it on your face, baby girl. So why are you still pushing me away?”

I couldn’t answer him. Because my reasons wouldn’t sound convincing enough with the mood I was in. My resolve was already wavering after being in his presence for five minutes. What the hell was wrong with me?

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Let me take you home.”

“No.”

“Brighton…”

“No,” I said again. “I’ll have Nicole come and get me.”

“Then I’ll wait with you.”

“I don’t want you to!” I scrubbed my hands over my face. “Can’t you understand that, Ryland? I don’t want you here. I don’t want anything else from you. So just go!”

His eyes filled with pain, and I had to tear mine away. I couldn’t look at him. I knew I was hurting him, but it was necessary. It was the only way I could truly do this.

“If that’s what you really want…”

“It is what I want,” I assured him in a shaky voice.

He nodded and gave me one last glance before he walked away.

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