Page 85 of Where You Left Me

She pushes up onto her elbow and leans her head against her hand, peering down at me. Her hair falls, cascading across her bare breasts that are now exposed. She’s breathtaking. But it’s a distraction I can’t afford, and I have to drag my attention away and pin it to the ceiling.

“I told you when we started…this, I was leaving at the end of summer. I told you I couldn’t make you any promises.”

“But that was before,” I bite out, my chest aching as my heart pounds harder. “I guess I’m the dumbass who thought things had changed since the beginning of summer.”

She sits up and my gaze travels down the curve of her spine to her adorable ass. I’m desperate to end this conversation. Almost as much as I was to start it. I want to grab those perfect buttcheeks in my hands and bring her down on top of me. To lower her onto my already throbbing cock and fill her until she’s fully satisfied. Then maybe she’d be convinced that we’re meant to be together.

But then I catch sight of her shoulders shaking.

Oh shit.

“Thingshavechanged, Jones, but you can’t expect me to just change my whole life for you. I’ve done it before, I can’t do it again.”

I sit up in bed but don’t touch her. I know Mia enough to know when to comfort her and when to keep my hands to myself. But it doesn’t mean it’s not killing me to not reach for her.

Releasing a breath, I say, “Listen, I don’t want to sound like a dick here, but you didn’t change your life for me. You might have done itbecauseof me, but I didn’t ask you to leave. I didn’t ask to be abandoned when I needed you most. But you left. This is where you left me. So don’t fucking come at me with your bullshit of having to start your life over.”

“Jones,” she says my name on a sob.

It forces a lump to lodge in my throat, but I push through. “I hate to point out the obvious, but I had to start my life over too.”

“I know you did. I get that?—”

“Do you?” I bark.

“I do.”

“Ya could’ve fucking fooled me.” I toss off the blankets and throw my legs over the side of the bed.

We sit quietly like this for a few moments.

“You made a new life. I made a new life. Maybe we were just kidding ourselves thinking we could actually make a life together.” Her voice sounds small in the quiet room.

“Well, you can’t make a life with someone who has been fixing to leave again since the second she fucking got here,” I snap, and push off the bed.

“That’s not fair,” she cries.

I stop at the foot of the bed, my brain battling with my heart and everything in between. Lowering my tone, I say, “Peaches, this is real life. It’s not meant to be fair. But we pick the person we choose to survive it with. And if you’re lucky, the two of you can turn survival into a good fucking time. Most days. And on the hard days, you hold each other and don’t let go.”

Tears stream down her cheeks and she licks her lips.

“I pick you. I’ve always picked you.”

“Jones,” my name rattles from her chest.

“I can’t really spell out my intentions any more than that.” I snatch a T-shirt and a pair of jeans from my drawer and lift my gaze to her. “It’s your turn now, beauty. The ball is in your court.” I slip out of my room, my heart in my throat, and leave her crying on my bed.

Rosie

You’re an ass.

Me

Not in the mood for your shit today.

Rosie

I don’t give a fuck. I told you not to hurt my girl.

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