Page 97 of Bumping into You

“Gwen,” says Niall, who had followed me to the door. Tears fill his eyes. “I need you to hear me. It wasn’t like that. I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t want you to take it the wrong way. I thought we’d grown real feelings for each other so it wouldn’t even matter. A funny story to tell later,” he says.

“Do I look like I’m laughing? No. No part of this was funny. This is so different from the pact we made. No one could have gotten hurt with our pact. But your pact with Greg, how did you think I wouldn’t get hurt by that? I thought I knew you better, but I guess I never knew you at all.”

My phone pings, letting me know that my ride is here. “Well,that’s my ride,” I say.

Niall’s eyes go wide. “Gwen, please don’t go.”

“I won’t deny that we had fun on the cruise,” I say, ignoring his pleas. “And I don’t want to ruin Greg’s post-marriage bliss, so I won’t tell him that I found out about your deal.” The words drip from my mouth with contempt.

“Goodbye, Niall,” I say, then leave through the front door, tears rolling down my cheeks.

The next day, I wake up late, feeling like a freight truck hit me. I glance at my clock and notice it’s one o’clock in the afternoon. My face is puffy from crying myself to sleep. My phone rings, and I flip it over to see Niall is calling. I send him to voicemail, noticing I have four missed calls and nine missed texts from him. I read the most recent text.

Niall

Gwen, please call me, we should talk.

I silence my phone. I can’t do this. I can’t handle the calls and messages right now.

I can’t just sit around all day, because I might be tempted to answer one of his calls or read more of his texts. So, I do what I do best. I take a quick shower, drink some coffee, and head to my office.

The quiet of the office on the weekend and going through next week’s events will help me clear my head of the Irish hottie. No, the Irish liar.

Even though I still have feelings for him, I have to remember that he lied to me. everything was fake, just a favor for my brother. I want to strangle Greg for interfering.

When I had been with Bradley, he had hid his true feelings from me for months. Then hearing that Niall had lied about our entire relationship makes me wonder if he ever had genuinefeelings for me. Did he even like me for me? Or was he just spending time with me for my brother’s sake?

How is a relationship supposed to work when one person withholds vital information?

Answer: it doesn’t.

Which is why it can’t work out for Niall and I. And if Niall was lying to me from the start of our relationship, what would that mean for the rest of it? And if you add on the fact that we don’t even live in the same state, it’s too much for me to take.

Shaking my head to clear away unwanted memories and thoughts of the past week, I pull out next week’s contracts to review. I’ll just dedicate my life to my work and making other people’s dreams come true. Having my friends and family will be enough.

I don’t need a man; all they do is cause heartbreak.

Chapter 46

Niall

I’m in bits. Looking at my reflection in the mirror the day after Gwen left, it’s clear that I haven’t been myself. Other than call and text Gwen, I’ve sat on my couch or in my bed staring at my phone, willing her to answer my calls or message me back.

It’s been radio silence.

I made such a hames of things. I should have told her about the favor. The moment I realized Greg had been talking about Gwen was the moment I should have gone to her and explained everything.

I found someone perfect for me,mo anam cara, and then I lost her. Mam was right. I do need someone in my life. It’s Gwen. I fulfilled the promise to my mam and really tried, but now I’ve ruined everything. She’d be so disappointed.

I should have told Gwen I love her. I need to get a hold of her, explain everything, and profusely apologize. But if she won’t answer my calls or texts, I have no way of reaching her.

Wait, I do. I quickly grab my phone and dial as I pace around my living room.

“Hey, dude!” Trent’s cheerful voice comes across the line. “Miss me already?”

My heart aches, and I try to clear my throat. “Hey.” It’s all I can get out.

“Sully, dude, what’s wrong?” Trent asks. I can hear water in the background. He must be at the marina. I hear some muffled voices before Trent says, “I didn’t think I’d hear from you sosoon. I thought you’d be busy with Gwen, showing her around Boston.”

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