Page 52 of Wild Irish

I pick up the key, trying to hold back the sobs that strangle me. I shouldn’t care as much as I do. I knew all along that this wouldn’t last. But the way he looked at me, like I was filth, has burned into my mind.

“Delaney?” There’s sympathy in his eyes when I glance up and meet his gaze.

“I need to go.” I still need to deal with Matt. I’m not sure why he’s here, or why he told Cillian that we’re engaged. But I intend to find out.

“I’ll drive you. If ye need to stay with Emer and I until ye figure things out–”

“I’d appreciate a ride to the train station, but I need to deal with something first. Would you mind waiting?”

He nods.

I gather the few belongings I have, then make my way down to the coffee shop. I can feel Aiden behind me, but he has the grace to not say anything or ask any more questions.

As soon as I see Matt, fresh anger mixes with misery, a volatile combination, and I can feel myself on the edge, ready to explode.

His familiar brown eyes widen when he sees me. “God, Delaney. I’ve been worried–”

“Don’t.” I raise my hand, stopping him from coming any closer.

He frowns, jaw clenching, nostrils flaring. “Why are you here?Howare you here?”

“Your parents called me. They’re worried about you.”

Shit. I’d sent them a few emails, but I hadn’t contacted them in over two weeks. Not that they’d ever seemed to notice when I’d gone long periods without calling before.

“Joint MasterCard. I saw the charges.”

Shit.I hadn’t thought about that.

“I went to your apartment. I could tell you hadn’t been there in a while, so I called your work. They said you’d been…let go.”

“Did you tell my parents?”

“No.”

“Thank you.” The words feel like grit in my mouth.

His features relax slightly and he nods. “When I realized you hadn’t told them about us, I thought maybe there was still hope.”

“Hope?” I laugh. “I didn’t think telling them you’re a lying, two-timing cheat would be helpful.”

His nostrils flare. “I didn’t lie to you, Delaney. I told you exactly what happened.”

“That you slept with another woman while we were engaged. Yeah, thank you for being so honest.” Sarcasm drips from my words. “You’re a modern day saint.”

“Jesus, Delaney. How many times do I have to apologize? It only happened once. And it wasn’t like…” He rubs the back of his neck and looks away.

“Wasn’t like what? Say it.”

“You were so caught up in your grief, you didn’t have time for me.”

“If you were so unhappy, you should have broken up with me, not gone out a screwed the first woman you met.”

“Abby wasn’t…” He shakes his head and looks up at the ceiling, blowing out a slow, calming breath. When he looks back at me, his expression has changed, more contained. And I’m reminded of the man I used to care about. The one that stuck by me through Maeve’s illness, who held my hand at her funeral. “I love you, Delaney. That hasn’t changed.”

For a moment, I feel a hint of the emotion that I once felt with him. And I realize now how dull and passionless it really was.

“It’s over between us.” I keep my voice steady.

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