Page 29 of Until We Meet Again

Her words are heavy with sadness, and her voice shakes with tiredness but also acceptance. "They said they've done everything they can, and it's time to go home."

Her words slice through the silence like a knife as they hang in the air, etching themselves into me in a matter of seconds, leaving a lasting mark on the deepest parts of my soul.

"Zane, are you listening to me?" As stillness swallows me, she shouts out, but all I can do is fall apart, break down, and lose control of everything that is building up inside me. "Hey, it's okay. I'll be okay."

We're out of time and options. Kim now faces a life without ever falling in love with her soulmate, and her light footsteps will never walk down an aisle, which was once paved withdreams of wearing a beautiful white dress and being called a bride. She won't ever experience the happiness of motherhood or the love of a child. My twin sister and I will never spend another birthday together, and I know when the time comes, I'll be left feeling alone in this life without her.

I work hard to suppress the painful memories of my past. However, those sneaky fuckers sometimes manage to resurface, like right now, and I find myself sitting alone with tears in my eyes, missing Kimberley more than ever.

I rise from my chair after rubbing my face with my hands and make my way toward my bedroom, covering my body with a black shirt and gray trousers. I need to get out of here and distract myself from all the shit that's going on in my head.

I've spent the last week doing everything I can to push my infatuation with Tessa to the back of my mind. However, I find myself longing for our conversations. Her beautiful smile that fills my head with wild butterflies. The way she says my name and the taste of herfulllips.

Just don't fuck up and send her another message, dumbass.

Desperate to distract myself from thinking about her, I find myself in a bar I've never been to—anywhere but the Cordova Lounge. The thought of sitting there now, with the vivid memories of how close we were still fresh in my mind, is enough to send blood rushing straight to my cock.

Do you want to be touched, Tessa?

By a guy?

No. By me.

I brush away the thoughts with a slight jolt, sipping the bourbon in my hand. It's not nearly as impressive as what I've experienced elsewhere, but at least this setting doesn't tempt me to jeopardize my career and Tessa's education without a second thought.

The bar I'm in is livelier than my usual preference. It's packed with a larger crowd, and the setting is furnished with vibrant decor. I usually gravitate toward somewhere more understated, where the noise level is lower, allowing me to hear my thoughts clearly, but I can't afford to be picky right now.

While I'm sitting at the bar, I glance around the room, looking for anything to divert my attention away from the girl of my damn dreams.Suddenly, my eyes lock with a woman sitting alone across the other side of the bar. Her gaze is inviting, almost daring me to come over and approach her, and I know that all it will take is some easy conversation. But I'm hesitant.

I take a moment to stare into my glass, determined to ignore any intrusive thoughts and remind myself that my obsession with Tessa has to end. My feelings for her are unusual to me, and the only way forward is to let go.

Reluctantly, I stand up from my chair and make my way over to the dark-haired woman. She appears to be around my age, with long hair that falls to her waist. Her eyes are exceptionally dark, and her lipstick is a striking shade of red that contrasts with her fair complexion. Her lips and dress are perfectly matched in shade, and as I extend my hand, she graciously clasps onto it.

"Hi, I'm Zane."

"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Zane. I’m Gina." Her voice is sultry, but it doesn’t affect me—not like it would’ve before I met… "I’ve never seen you here before," she says, as my mind starts to drift back to the one girl I’m desperate for but can’t have.

"It's my first time. Do you come here often?" I'm instantly embarrassed by my lame-as-shit question, but she still responds.

"Sometimes. It depends on what kind of mood I'm in." After one last sipof her wine, she places her empty glass on the bar.

"Would you like another?" I ask as I finish my drink.

She nods and replies, "Yes, please," prompting me to order another round and pay closer attention to her, hoping to find somethingthat might spark my interest.

There's no denying that she's attractive, but my dick doesn't give a fuck.

"So, what kind of mood do you have to be in to come here?" I ask, keeping my focus on her. She crosses one leg over the other, her dress hitching slightly, revealing more of her skin than she'd previously shown me.

"One where I meet a handsome stranger, hoping he's here for the same reasons that I am." She looks at me over the rim of her glass before she sets it down and places a hand on my thigh, but I feel nothing. "I'm not really into small talk, and you're hot." I glance down at my glass of whiskey, shaking my head with a smile on my face. "Also, this place is a little loud, and I'd be happy to get out of here."

My automatic response should beyes.I should take Gina's hand and lead her out of here, drive her home, and have meaningless sex with her to work out the stress my hand can't seem to alleviate. I should fuck this woman until my mind is no longer filled with images of Tessa laid out in front of me, waiting for me to make her scream so loudly that it echoes through the heavens and leaves her breathless.

But I can't. I can't go home with her because the idea of being inside anyone other than Tessa makes my cock want to crawl up inside itself.

"I'm sorry, Gina, but I need to leave."

"What?" she asks, her mouth wide open.

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