Page 72 of Just This Once

She pouts when she realizes. “What’s wrong?”

I huff, coasting my gaze around the party, confused about what is actually happening. “Why are you here? We haven’t talked in months.”

“Because I…” She takes a deep breath, moving closer to me so I can still hear her when she lowers her voice. “I miss you, and I’m sorry. Okay? I just want to talk to you. Please?” She wraps her arms around me, standing on her tiptoes to brush her lips against my jaw. “Please, Dante.”

That’s when I spot Taryn across the room, frozen in place, glowering as my ex-girlfriend winds her arms around me. Trying to kiss me. I shoot my hand up, blocking Kim’s face as Taryn’s features flicker through so many different emotions: hurt, anger, jealousy, and back to hurt, her shoulders slumping slightly.

Shit.

What bad fucking timing. I set my focus back on Kim, so there is no equivocation. “I’m not interested in hearing what you have to say. I’ve moved on.”

Her face falls. “You’ve moved on?”

“Yes. I’ve moved on with someone else, and I’m not going to go somewhere to talk with you. I’m sorry, but no thank you.”

I slip away from her, following Taryn out to the kitchen and through the back door. “Wait, Tar. Wait a second.”

Of course, she doesn’t. She struts right outside like it’s not freezing.

“You’re not even wearing a coat.” I catch her by the wrist to stop her. “What are you doing out here?”

“Needed some air,” she snaps, refusing to face me.

I remove my blazer and slip it on her shoulders. “I’m sorry about that.”

She folds her arms over her chest, snagging the lapels of my jacket to pull it closer around her, and I rub my hands up and down her arms. She doesn’t push me away, but she still won’t meet my gaze either. “Taryn, talk to me.”

“Who was she?”

“Kim. My ex.”

“The one you were with before me,” she says. It’s not a question, but I nod anyway.

“It was nothing. I haven’t seen or spoken to her in months, and I had no idea she’d show up here tonight. I don’t want anything to do with her.”

“Didn’t seem that way from where I was standing. Appeared pretty cozy, actually.”

“Hey.” I step in front of her, ducking my head, forcing her to meet my eyes. “You know I’m not interested in her anymore, right?” When Taryn doesn’t respond, merely presses her lips together, I take her by the shoulders. “I’m serious.”

“Why did you break up?”

“Because she didn’t want the same things I did. I wanted to get serious, but she didn’t.”

“Did you love her?”

The inquisition is harsh, but I don’t mind. It makes me sure that Taryn has feelings for me. She may not be ready to admit them yet, but they’re there. They’re strong.

I shrug in response to her question. “I thought I did. We were together for almost two years, and it was a slow grow. Itstarted out as something fun, and then suddenly, we were together all the time, and it made me realize that I was ready for more. I’m ready to love someone.”

I hope Taryn understands what I mean. That I love her. I am ready for everything that comes with her.

I want a life with her.

“She wasn’t ready,” I continue, squeezing Taryn’s shoulders. “And she broke up with me, but now she thinks she made a mistake.”

Taryn cants her head to the side. “Did she?”

I slide my hands from her shoulders to her neck, fingers in the back of her hair, thumbs at her jaw, nudging her eyes back to mine. “No. Whatever she does or doesn’t feel is none of my business anymore. She wanted to talk, but I don’t. I have nothing to say to her. The only woman I’m interested in is standing right here in front of me.”

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