Page 129 of Desserts for Stressed People

“And?” I urge her to continue.

“And I might have...kinda, sorta,maybescreamed at him a little.”

Ugh. Not this again. “Em, I know you don’t like him, but you can’t keep antagonizing him forever.”

“It’s not that I don’t like him, H.”

My brows furrow.

“But he’s a damn idiot. And an asshole, though we could have seen that coming.”

Shane’s eyes meet mine.

“Em...” I mumble.

“I just expected so much more from him, and now you’re heartbroken and aggressively unhappy.”

Is she talking about Shane? Could it be that...him being hereright nowisn’t a coincidence? “Wait—”

“And since I was the one who led you down this path of blue-suited agony, I can’t help but feel responsible—”

“Emma,” I call, my heart beating so fast it’s making my whole body shake. “Who are you talking about?”

“Me. She’s talking about me,” Shane says, his gaze sweet and nervous as he studies my expression. “I assume as much, seeing as she just lost it on me in front of the whole company.”

“You...” I mumble, my arm falling down my side. I stare at him, trying to understand what it means.

He came looking for me. He didn’t give up on me.

When Emma’s voice comes from the phone, I bring it back to my ear.

“—anyway, once I told him all that, he just kind of mumbled that they’d told him on the fourth floor that you were off. I said you’d probably be home, so he might come to your place after work.”

I swallow. “‘Em, I have to go.”

“Pleeeeeaase, don’t be mad at me? At least I’m giving you a heads-up! And, when he does come over, tell him that I’m sorry. If he’s there to grovel and kneel at your feet, of course. Otherwise, tell him he can go get fu—”

“Loveyoubye,” I rush out in one breath before hanging up.

Shane hasn’t moved, a half smile on his face and his hands joined over his thighs. How did he know I’d be here? Maybe he went to my apartment, and when he didn’t find me, he tried this place.

I beg myself not toassume. Not to dream that the reason he’s here is that he wants me back. I don’t think I’d survive the disappointment this time. But even so, it’s all I can think about. How maybe he’s here to give us another chance.

We could pick things up where we left them—I wouldn’t need him to grovel. It’d be enough that he showed me that he cares. That he’s willing to fight for us. That I’m not alone in this, and no matter how difficult things get, he’ll find it in himself to listen and won’t push me away.

That we’ll write another ending to our story.

“Where...where were we?” I ask when he remains silent.

His smile fades away, slowly turning into a pained expression like I’ve never seen before. As if he hates himself. Bringing a hand to the back of his neck, he sighs. “Emma told you, right? About what happened today in the cafeteria?”

“Yes.” I straighten my wrinkle-free t-shirt. “I’m sorry about whatever she said—”

“She said I’m an asshole. A coward. A quitter. That though I might think you lostme,I’mthe one who lost someone. Someone I’ll try to replace with every person I meet.”

Gee. Even for Emma’s standards, that’s harsh.

“That it’s easy to run the opposite direction when shit hits the fan, but strong people work through their problems.” He looks up at the ceiling, a low hum coming out of his throat. “That...uh, that I pushed you away, so I better not expect you to be there when I’m finally ready, and that I’ll soon realize what I miss isn’t even what we had, but what wealmosthad.”

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