Page 117 of Tormented Billionaire Romance Series

“It wouldn't have worked out. He would have been too far away and I would have gotten frustrated with the distance. I never want to move.”

I hugged her close. “I know.”

“And that sealed the deal for me. I didn't even want to try to compromise. Do you think that makes me awful?”

“No, I think that just makes you firm. Sometimes, it just doesn't work. I mean,” I swallowed hard. “Look how we ended up. I did the same thing.”

“But you were different. You were traveling. And your job required it. Gabe could have stayed here if he wanted us to work.”

“What if I hadn't come back to town?”

She went quiet for a moment. Her fingers began tracing circles in and around my chest hair. She used to do that when we were younger and it transported me temporarily back to the bed of my truck. I smiled as I buried my nose into her hair.

“I think if you hadn't come back, I might have taken Gabe back when he tried to patch things up. We were such good friends and we had invested so much time in our relationship.”

“We did, too.”

She hummed in agreement. “You're right. We did.”

“But I guess I never tried to come back and fix things.”

“No, you stayed in Europe. Pretty much forever.”

“I was running.”

She squeezed me. “I know, sweetie.”

“I didn't mean to run. I was afraid of what you would do if I did try to come back. And believe me, I considered it about a million times.”

“Why didn't you try?”

I shrugged. “The fear kept me away. I knew you would want to get your life moving forward and get your business going. I didn't want to impose.”

I sank in the sheets. Maybe she felt it or maybe she didn't. But I felt like I was melting away from her. Hearing about Gabe made me jealous and slightly defensive. It seemed like he had tried so much harder than me to make things work. He and I were a lot alike—and we were friends for that reason—but he didn't know Clara like I did. Clara and I had been hooked forever.

Until we weren't.

I sighed. “I'm sorry I asked. I just wanted to know.”

“Don't be sorry. I think it's important we talk about these things.”

“I'm grateful that you told me the truth.”

“Are you?”

I chuckled. “Do I seem like I'm lying?”

“I just know you. I know how you get when other people are in the equation.”

“Well, this is new for us. I mean, I haven't dated anyone except you. I might have had a fling or two overseas, but it was nothing. It wasn't like this.” I tangled my fingers with hers. “It wasn't like you.”

She kissed my shoulder and I felt a smile on her lips. “Well, that's very sweet.”

“It's something.”

“I think it just goes to show how we're meant to be together.”

“It took me forever to figure it out.”

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