Page 98 of Bumping into You

“I’m not. . . . I’ve screwed everything up.” I say, running my hand through my hair.

“I’m sure it’s not all that bad. What happened?”

I tell Trent everything starting after the cruise, how everything was going perfectly, then everything fell apart.

“Wow, so she’s been back home since yesterday?” he asks.

“She has. So, you haven’t seen her?”

“She didn’t call me. I figured she’d be in Boston for another day from what you all had planned. I’ll get a hold of Margot and see if she’s heard from her. Don’t worry. I’m sure everything will work out.”

“I don’t see how.”

“Sully, I saw you two together. She cares about you a lot. Listen, I’ll check in on her and get back to you.”

“Thanks, mate,” I say, clicking off my phone and sinking down into the couch.

Chapter 47

Gwen

The next day, I’m still immersed in work. I’m thinking about what kind of decorations to use for next week’s fundraiser gala when I turn and almost run into Margot and Trent. Both are staring at me, Margot with her hands on her hips.

“What?” I ask, not in the mood to talk to either of them. I have a feeling I know exactly why they are here.

“What do you mean ‘what?’” says Margot. “What happened?”

“Why don’t you ask Trent?” I motion next to her. “I’m sure he can fill you in on the little deal Greg struck with Niall.”

“That’s not what you think it is, G,” says Trent calmly.

I snap a cold glare at him. “Don’t. Don’t try and defend them. Either of you. You both know how hard the breakup with Bradley was for me. You know how much his poor communication blindsided me. And then you,” I turn to Trent and continue, “You and Greg had Niall lie to me. It wasn’t even bad communication; our relationship was just a full-blown lie! You all lied to me.” Angry tears fall down my face. I wipe my cheek with the back of my hand. “You all are supposed to be my best friends. And Niall . . . Niall didn’t mean anything to me. So, there’s nothing more to talk about.”

Both Margot and Trent have pained expressions on their faces.

“I’m so sorry,” says Trent. “I didn’t mean . . .”

“Gwen . . .” Margot starts, but I walk away from them.

Reaching the hallway and turning the corner, I sag against the wall and lower myself to the floor. Tears run down my face, but Idon’t brush them away this time.

Niall hadn’t meant anything to me; he’d meant everything to me. How that man had weaseled his way into my heart was beyond me. Now, I need to figure out a way to get him out or live my life regretting what could have been.

Chapter 48

Niall

I’m thankful for my shift the next day. It’s good for me to be around others and not be alone. When I’m alone, I have too much time to relive every moment. To think about what I could have done differently so things wouldn’t have ended up like they did.

“You look awful,” says Johnny as I put my things in my locker. “Here, take a cookie.”

“Thanks,” I say, reaching over and taking one. Not that I feel like a cookie, but in no way am I going to have him report back to his wife that I refused one of her desserts. The first bite takes me back to the day Gwen first popped her head into my rental car and her sweet strawberries-and-cream scent flooded my senses. The reminder of her brings a fresh wave of grief. I’ve never felt this strongly for someone in my entire life, and the sadness is drowning me.

“Oh no, I know that look,” says Brianna, joining us near the lockers as she ties the laces on one of her boots.

“What?” asks Mitchell. “What did I miss?”

“It’s the girl, isn’t it?” asks Brianna softly.

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