Page 152 of Ten Day Affair
“It was the only way to get her to leave you out of it. Your name, our relationship, all of it.”
Her jaw tightens, but she doesn’t interrupt.
“I know it looks like I took the hit for the company, like I fell on the sword for Kings Holdings.”
I step closer, voice steady now.
“But that’s not why I did it. I didn’t care what it cost me. I just didn’t want you dragged down with me.”
She doesn’t look at me. But she doesn’t walk away either.
“I did it for you, Sam.”
She’s quiet for a long moment. Then she shakes her head.
“No.”
“No, what?”
“I can’t let myself believe you. Iwantto. But I can’t.” Her voice catches.
"You can."
“You’re good at saying the right thing, Cole. But you already proved I can’t trust you.”
"Sam, please. Let me?—"
"You should go, Cole. We should leave everything in the past."
She says it like it's already decided, like the outcome is already baked in.
And maybe it is.
Because no matter what I’ve done to try to fix this, the only thing that matters is the most important thing I broke.
Her trust.
THIRTY-FIVE
Sam
"I need space to think."
The words hang between us. He nods once slowly and purses his lips, but doesn't say anything.
"Don't get things twisted. Sex wasn't forgiveness," I continue, my voice steadier than I feel inside.
God, why does he have to look at me like that, like he cares? He's good at that.
Cole reaches for his shirt and pulls it over his head with one hand. "I know."
"Do you? Because five minutes ago, you were acting like everything was just the way it was before all of this imploded. Before I knew you were actively tearing apart my life.”
He stands, running a hand through his messy hair. "I wasn't acting like anything. I was hoping."
Hoping.The word hits me square in the chest.
"Well, stop hoping. This was just..." I wave my hand between us. "Physical. Temporary insanity. Whatever."
