Page 89 of Fumbled Beginning

“The only thing I want from you is for you to admit what you did, to my face. There is no explanation needed other than you are an asshole.”

Scowling, he pushed back in his seat and gritted his teeth. “I’m trying to protect you. Guys like him use and manipulate women like you.”

“Women like me?” I crossed my arms. The guy was digging himself a hole so deep he would need a ten-foot ladder to get out of it.

“You were vulnerable after our breakup. He thought he could just swoop in and try to take advantage of you.”

“I was not vulnerable. I finally started thinking clearly.” I leaned in so he would hear every word. “And he did not take advantage of me. I was over you before I even had my feet out the door. And if you’re going to accuse anyone of manipulating, you might want to start with looking in the damn mirror.”

“Rylee,” he wiped at the corner of his mouth, “I’m working on myself. I cut back on my drinking. I want to be the man you deserve. Give me another chance to prove it to you.”

“Dom.” I sputtered out a laugh. “You’re drinking right now.” I pointed to the empty glass on the table.

He winced. “That was my only drink today. It was a business meeting.”

I stared at him wide-eyed. Did he even realize how ridiculous he sounded? “I don’t care if it was one or ten. It doesn’t matter.”

He ran a shaky hand through his hair. “Don’t act like you don’t care about me, because I know you do. Losing you was one of my biggest regrets. I saw a chance to get you back and I ran with it. I still love you, Rylee, and I couldn’t go another day knowing you were with someone else.”

He couldn’t be serious. We have been broken up for almost a year. And during that year, he has slept his way through the city of Atlanta. This was all one big game to him because he couldn’t accept the fact that I’d moved on to someone better. Dom’s ego was too big. He couldn’t handle the truth.

I pointed my finger at him, calling him out on his bullshit. “You don’t love me. You just want what you can’t have. You use people and situations to get what you want, that’s not love.”

“You need to fucking relax.” He scoffed. “I am being sincere. Don’t tell me that I don’t still love you, and I don’t care what you say, I know you feel the same way about me.”

I laughed bitterly. “You are kidding yourself, because here is the thing, Dom. I don’t think I ever loved you and I can tell you with one hundred percent certainty, that what I feel for you is the exact opposite of that.”

The corners of his eyes tightened. “Look, I get it. You’re angry. Did I go about this all wrong? Yeah, but like I said, I was looking out for you. You don’t belong with a guy like that.”

“He is a good man. He has done nothing to you.”

JP might have hurt me, but I wasn’t innocent in all this. I should have made better decisions in Nashville. I never should have let Dom come near me, and now I was dealing with the consequences.

He glared. “Of course, you’re going to defend him.”

“You eavesdropped on a private conversation. What was said was none of your goddamned business. You knew I would find out. You knew I would be furious. You had no right to that information.”

“I did it because I want you back.”

“Well, I have news for you.” I was simmering with rage, and my pot had finally boiled over. “After what you did to me, you will never have me back. Now that I know the man you really are, I hate you with every fiber of my being.”

He tugged on the collar of his dress shirt. I could see his control slipping. “Once you realize what a mistake you’re making, you’ll be back and begging for forgiveness.”

If I weren’t so fired up, I’d laugh at the balls on this guy. For someone with a law degree from Duke University, he sure was thicker than a bowl of oatmeal. “I’m done.” I leaned in, putting my face inches from his. “You are not worth a second more of my time. But I’m warning you, come near me again, or spread one dirty, nasty word about JP, and I’ll let everyone in this company know what a drunk and disgrace you are. Don’t forget I covered for your ass one too many times, and the only reason why I’m not singing like a bird right now is because I want the leverage to keep you quiet. One word to anyone about JP, and you are done. Do we understand each other?”

All it would take was one phone call to the Georgia Bar Association to inform them that he cheated on his exam and his career would be over. Or a visit to our boss to let him know about the deals he fucked up and meetings he missed due to his alcohol-soaked brain.

“He doesn’t want you, Rylee.” I tried not to flinch at his words, but he was really pushing my buttons. “You’re going to throw your one chance away at real love for someone who will never reciprocate your feelings?”

I was shaking and knew it was time for me to get out of there.

I braced my palms on the table. “I had real love, Dom, withhim!”

With that, I picked up his plate, which was loaded with grease and ketchup, dumped it on his lap, and marched out of the restaurant.

* * *

“Rylee, have a seat.” Gary Rhys, the president of our company, smiled warmly at me.

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