Page 9 of Stay With Me

Her next words come out hushed, so much so that I barely hear them. “Are they? We’ve been dating for six months now and we’re no closer to a commitment than we were when we started.”

I run my hand through my hair and sigh before looking at her again.

“I told you when we started seeing each other that I couldn’t offer you anything serious. Just casual dating.”

“I-I know. But I thought with time you’d see how good we are together and change your mind.” The trembling in her voice causes me to look over at her and I wish I hadn’t, because the tears rolling down her cheeks scream that I’m an asshole for hurting her.

“I’m not trying to hurt you. I’m trying to do the right thing by you. It’s not a good idea to get attached to someone like me. I’m not relationship material.”

She sniffles. “Well, it’s too late. I’m already attached. I-I thought maybe you were, too. And I can handle the fact that you’re best friends with Trina, though any woman in her right mind would feel threatened by it. But I’m just asking you to put some boundaries up with Emily. To let someone else take care of her when she needs something.”

Not able to give her the response I know she wants, I remain silent. I won’t do what she asks regarding Emily. Even if I wanted to—which I don’t—I’m pretty sure I’m not capable of it.

Understanding washes over Shelly’s face and sadness fills her eyes, her mouth curving downward into a defeated frown. She unbuckles her seatbelt, then says, “Let’s just go in for the night and we can talk about it tomorrow.”

“I’m sorry, Shelly. I can’t.” My voice is steady, as I’m sure I’m doing the right thing.

“Huh? I thought you said you’d stay tonight?” A look of confusion mars her pretty face.

“That was the plan. But I think that’s probably not a good idea now. I’m sorry, but I think we probably shouldn’t continue this. You deserve more than I can give you.”

If Shelly could shoot fire from her eyes, I’m pretty sure I’d be incinerated. She’s gone from sad and confused to furious in a split-second.

“Are you kidding me? You’re breaking up with me?” She practically spits the words at me.

I want to look away but, at the very least, I owe it to her to look her in the eye for this. “I am.”

A loud huff escapes her and she opens the door to my truck and jumps out. Before shutting it, she glares at me. “You know, I thought I was pitiful because, even though you couldn’t bother to deny feeling something for Emily or promise you’d quit being at her beck and call, I was still going to let you fall into my bed and fuck me like all the other nights. But out of the two of us, I’m not the pathetic one here.”

And with that, the jarring thud of her slamming the truck door ends the conversation. I watch to make sure she gets safely into the house, then pull away, wishing it felt like she was wrong about me being pathetic. But it doesn’t.

CHAPTER5

EMILY

I can’t believe it’s the end of summer already, and I’m officially done with college.

Slamming the trunk of my compact sedan, I turn around to find Trina and Charlie staring into the window of my back seat, then watch as they both glance over to Charlie’s truck.

As I stroll up to them, Trina says, “I don’t like it. It’s not safe for?—”

“What’s not safe?” I ask, while I twirl my hair up into a messy bun.

“You can’t drive this,” Trina says. “The visibility is too poor. You won’t be able to see out the back window. And Charlie’s truck bed is too full to add anything else.” Trina pauses and rubs her fingertips against her temples. “How do you have so much shit, Em?”

“Hey! It’s not shit. I’ve lived here for four years. When you consider that this is almost everything I own, it’s not that much.”

Trina rolls her eyes and Charlie chuckles, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

My low belly does a little flip-flop.

I know I’m a spoken for woman—and I’dneveradmit this to Teddy, or even Trina—but since the day I met my sister’s best friend four years ago, I’ve had a tiny, completely harmless crush on the gorgeous specimen of a man. What woman wouldn’t? He’s tall, broad shouldered, dark-haired, and handsome with lean muscle for days. And that short beard of his, there’s just something about it. He’s one hundred percent man. I’m not sure why my sister has never shown an interest in him beyond friendship, but she hasn’t.

“Em! Did you hear me?” Trina asks.

“What? Huh? Sorry, I got distracted. What did you say?”

“I said I’m going to drive your car and you ride with Fitz.” Trina puts her hand out with the palm facing up, obviously expecting me to hand over my keys.

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