Page 40 of Between Now & Heartbreak

My attempt to mitigate my actions only seems to make things worse.

He comes toward me, stepping into the light so I can see the disdain in his dark green eyes.

“What’s wrong is that you’re leaving here with my cum inside you, and going home to someone else.”

My stomach heaves.

“Carter, none of this should have happened,” I insist.

Like a switch was flipped, his face loses all expression. Even his anger is gone. In its place is a detachment that I’ve seen before. Just never from him.

“Then, let’s pretend it didn’t happen, Elisabeth. I’ll do what I came to do. And you can get back to your life. ” His dismissal couldn’t be clearer if he’d walked over and held the door open.

His back is to me and he and sits down at the machine I turned on for him.

I press my lips together to stifle the urge to call his name and beg him to take me out of this hell.

But no one can do that.

Iknowthis is for the best.

I’m not free to give him anything.

Yes, there’s something special between us, but in so many ways, he’s still a stranger.

A very beautiful one.

It justfeelslike he knows me better than anyone ever has before.

My heart, as if in protest, gives a painful tug.

But, I ignore it.

Letting that treacherous organ lead me is what got me into this mess in the first place.

And now, it’s gone and ruined everything.

9

TELL THE TRUTH, SHAME THE DEVIL

BETH

“Aresureyou okay?”

“Yes. For the third time in,” I look at my phone, “seven minutes. I’m fine.” I give Dina a grateful smile to temper the annoyance in my tone.

She’s a better friend than I deserve and I understand why she’s worried. “The first seventy hours are crucial and you got here in less than twelve. And I told you, he didn’t you know…” I swallow down my embarrassment, my dignity took a flying leap the minute my hysterical phone call sent my best friend to the drug store to get me an over the counter dose of Plan B. “He didn’t finish inside of me.”

“Yeah, that part was hot. Eating you out while he’s still coming? Unf, I mean…Ilovea man who isn’t selfish in bed.” Dina says wistfully.

“Oh Dina, it was a mistake. And it doesn’t matter because I fucked it all up.”

“So, was this a revenge fuck? Or was this a, I’ve finally come to my senses and I’m picking the right guy this time, fuck?”

“It was neither. Duke and I—” I choke on the rest of my sentence. I can’t tell her anymore lies. Not when she’s done nothing but prove I can trust her. And I want to tell someone. I’m confused and scared and…I need advice.

“Duke and you,what?”

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