Page 91 of Crave

“You’re an expert on him and our relationship?” This time, it’s me who steps closer to him. “You don’t know anything about him or our relationship. Bitterness does not look good on you, Derek. Is this your last ditch effort at controlling me? You couldn’t do it then, and you sure as fuck can’t do it now.”

He smiles as if he’s claiming victory. “You just made my point, Dee. You think he’ll bring you around his rich friends? Sure, he’s attracted to you, but you lack the class and sophistication someone like him needs. Listen to what you just said?” I open my mouth to respond, but he holds his hand up. “It’s not your fault. You’ll always be the black girl from the wrong side of the tracks.”

I can feel the burn in the back of my eyes, but I blink fast, refusing to let the tears pool.

“And yet you weren’t even good enough for me. What does that say about you, since you know so much?”

“I know you’re in over your head.”

“You don’t know shit. And what I do with my life is not your problem. You’re so full of hate, Derek. Why? I did us a favor by ending things. We didn’t work. For whatever reason, our relationship simply did not work. But I refuse to stand here and listen to your words.” And to taunt him, I say,” but words are all you’ve got, isn’t it?”

“We could have worked if you gave it a chance.”

“I gave it a chance for two years!” I scream at him, frustrated at his lack of understanding. The anger in his eyes dissipates and all I see is defeat, but it’s so brief that I think I might have imagined it.

He looks at me up and down, laughing joylessly. “You’re out of your league, but I’d love to see you knocked down a peg. He’s old money. Probably having dinner at the country club right now while you’re standing here in nurse’s scrubs. How do you think you’re going to fit into his world? Was that the problem with us? My background is too blue collar for a social climbing bitch like you?” I take a step back at his words, ready

to respond to his biting remarks. But he doesn’t give me time. He turns away from me and walks towards his Jeep. “Remember this conversation when he dumps you for someone with a trust fund and a summer home in St. Bart’s.”

I stand in front of my car, numb. The tears pooling in my eyes blurs my vision, but I don’t let them spill. I take a deep breath, wipe my eyes and climb into my car, still shaken by the scene.

CHAPTER 31

SANDY

“Are you okay? You seem distracted?” I look away from the pictures on Jake’s desk and look over at him. He’s impeccably dressed today in a navy blue, tailored suit that fits his body just right.

“What? No. Just tired. Didn’t sleep well last night.” I wave at him dismissively and turn back to the pictures on his desk. After speaking with Jake briefly last night, I did nothing but toss and turn, the ugly scene playing in my head, thinking of things I should have said at the moment.

He stands up and walks around the desk, taking me in his arms.

“I didn’t sleep well either. It’s hard to sleep without you now.” His brown eyes probe into mine, and I avert my gaze, fearful that he might see the pain just beneath the surface.

“Yeah, well, last night was the first night we spent apart in weeks.” I run my hands over his suit jacket, resting them on his shoulders. “You look so good in this suit, but all I want to do is take it off.”

I tilt my head up as he lowers his and when our lips touch, it’s fire. He pulls me against his hard body, both of his hands on my buttocks, squeezing and kneading. I get closer and as I’m about to grind into him, he pulls away.

“You know I have a meeting before lunch. I can’t walk in there like this.” He points towards his bulge in his pants, and I lick my lips at the sight it. I reach for it, but he dodges my hand. “Behave.”

“Or what?” I challenge, invading his space again.

“You’ll find out tonight. I’ll be over later and will leave for the airport from your place tomorrow.” I nod, a little saddened at the thought of him being gone for four days.

“How late?”

“Probably after nine again. I have a business dinner tonight at The Country Club in Chestnut Hill.”

“The what? I didn’t even realize there was a country club in Chestnut Hill.” The scene with Derek still fresh in my mind, I step away from Jake and turn my back to him, pretending to admire a painting on his wall.

“Yeah, we’re members but don’t go there much. The location of this dinner isn’t our choice.” He steps behind me and wraps his arms around my waist.

“Are you okay? You seem tense all of a sudden.”

Remember this conversation when he dumps you for someone with a trust fund and a summer home in St. Bart’s. Social climbing bitch.What the hell am I doing giving Derek’s words credence? I know who I am.

“I’m fine.” I clear my throat. “Just tired.”You’re out of your league.

“I have to run to my meeting.” He walks back to his desk and packs up his laptop. “I won’t be longer than thirty minutes then we can go eat.”

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