Page 22 of Don't Go Faking My Heart

"She's not," I say. But he's not even looking at me. He's looking at Rusty. He doesn’t want me; he wants to stake his claim and drop me once he’s driven Rusty away.

"Maybe we could go out for lunch, at least. As friends," Philip says to me. "If that's okay with your boyfriend."

"She doesn't need my permission," Rusty says.

"But the answer's still no," I say.

Philip hangs his head. "My loss."

"Right, because you came all the way here to find me and get back together." I roll my eyes, even though I want to kick myself. That question will make him think I care. And I do not.

I don't want to be with Philip ever again.

But is it awful if I want him to miss me? Is it so wrong of me to hope that he's in absolute misery thinking of me happy with someone else? Is it bad of me to want him to realize that he never deserved me because he is complete and utter human trash?

He looks up at me, and he makes his eyebrows pull together as if in earnest, and it's then that I realize how much danger I'm in.

I want him to writhe over what he lost.

Which means he still has power over me.

Disgust and fear bubble in my gut, creating a dangerous mixture.

"Why wouldn't I cross a country for you, Ashley?" Philip says. "You always sold yourself short."

"Nah," Rusty says. "Ash knows how incredible she is." He looks at me with so much faith in his eyes, if he wasn’t already my best friend, I’d fall in love with him for this look alone.

"Well, I hope so," Philip says. "I suppose with you two being so happy, my trip really is strictly business." Philip gives me a half smile, as if I'm supposed to believe he's somehow brokenhearted to see me with someone else instead of being angry he can't play with me and toss me aside.

Ugh.

Why is he still here? Or here at all? What on earth could someone in business development for Dumfries Holding—the sixth biggest commercial real estate development company in Illinois—have to do in Sugar Maple, South Carolina …

Ohhhhhh.

A cold chill runs down my spine.

"How long have you two been together?" Philip asks.

Panic freezes me the rest of the way over, but Rusty saves the day. Again.

"Not long enough," he says

"What does that mean?" Philip asks.

"It means I've been head over heels for Ash for a year, but I only recently convinced her to give us a shot."

"Funny," Philip says. "Ashley didn't take any convincing when we dated."

Barf.

"I'm a little more discerning now," I say. Rusty pinches my side, and I laugh.

Philip sizes Rusty up. "What is it you do, Rusty?"

"I work for Sugar Maple Farms," Rusty says.

"A farm boy? Impressive," Philip says.

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