Page 55 of Hothead

“What happened, where’d you go?” he asked, keeping his tone gentle.

Her stare was still blank. “Look, Luke, it’s not a big deal. This thing between us was only ever gonna end one way, anyway. It just needs to end two days early, that’s all.”

It’s not a big deal. Only ever gonna end one way.Was it all in his head? He was so sure she felt it too. He felt sick. Who even was this woman before him; where had Bella gone?

Maybe this was her all along?

That couldn’t be true, could it? He wanted to shake her. Find out what she’d done with the woman he’d fallen for. But he didn’t get a chance. This Bella was done. And she was climbing into the driver’s seat without a second look.

He had to stop her. Which is what he tried to do next as he clung onto the door she was trying to shut.

“What the fuck, Bella?”

Another look he’d never seen before hit him full force in the stomach. “Luke, please. I need to get on the road, it’s a long drive.”

That was her main concern? Driving times.

Now he was really pissed.

“Fine. By all means,get on the road. But before you do, you mind telling me why you were about to leave without saying goodbye? Or maybe you wanna tell me why whatever it is that hascome upcan’t wait another two days?”

“Why do you care?”

More frost hit his veins.

“What?” He just didn’t get it.

“I said, why do you care? This thing between us was temporary, remember? That’s the only reason you let it go this far, right, ’cause I’m leaving?” She didn’t wait for a reply. “So it ended two days early, so fucking what? I’m sure some more nameless sex will help you forget pretty damn quickly. Why don’t you get on that?”

Bella tried to tug at the car door again, but he kept his grip firm as he tried to process her words.

“What’s going on with you? Where’s the Bella I left this morning ... in my bed?”

“She’s right here. Saying goodbye.” He searched her for clues. Signs. Anything that would help him decide what to do, what to say. But just like him, when she wanted her expression blanked, she knew exactly how to do it.

Fight for her. Make her stay.

But he couldn’t. Because what was the point? She was right. They had an agreement. This thing between them had an end date. And it was the only reason he had opened up to her in the first place. Even if something had happened that had made her want to leave, she’d made up her mind. And God knows he’d been through this enough to know how things went from here. She was just one of a long line of people that didn’t want him.

He didn’t bother hiding how he felt this time though. He let her see it all. Anger. Pain. Hurt. But it was the disappointment that stung the most as he slammed her car door shut and walked away.

How could I have been so fucking stupid?

***

It had been two dayssince Bella left. Ironically, today was the day she originally intended on leaving. Which was probably why his phone was blowing up. He might not have told anyone that Bella was gone. Anyone being his friends and their women. He also might not have shown up at work these past few days.

For someone who was pretty damn used to abandonment, he was taking this latest rejection particularly badly. As in, he was surprised he hadn’t needed his stomach pumped.

There’s still time.

A heavy bang on his front door had him groaning as his head began to throb again. He’d ignored the doorbell for the past five minutes, so what made whoever it was outside think he was about to get his ass off the couch now, he didn’t know.

The phone on his trunk table started ringing out, which only made him groan again as he threw his head back into the cushion.

Why? Just leave me alone for fucks sake.

More bangs and more ringing went on for a good few minutes until he heard something even more disturbing. His front door opening and closing.

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