Page 74 of Love.V2
I had only ever been to Dylan’s hotel once. It was one of those long-term stay places, almost like an apartment.
His suite had a little kitchenette, sitting area, and a big king-sized bed. It was all white and cream, washed out and bland. When we’d stopped by to get him some more clothes last week, I’d pouted and told him he never had to come back to this sad little not-an-apartment ever again.
But the door opened, and here he was. Sad and beige in this sad and beige room. The surprise on his face clenched my heart into a fist. He hadn’t expected me.
Well, I couldn’t blame him for that. I was good at running away. Not so good at running towards. But that was going to change.
“Hi.”
“Hi.” I had rehearsed what I wanted to say on the drive over here, but I hadn’t thought about how I’d get invited in. Shit. Hadn’t his last words in my office been about staying here tonight, away from me? I should have called him before rushing over. “Um, can…do you mind if I come in? It’s okay if you don’t want me here…I mean, if you still need some time…”
He was already swinging the door open. Thank God.
“You seem relieved.” His voice was like sandpaper. I wandered into the little sitting room, perching on the edge of a taupe, pleather loveseat.
“I didn’t know if you’d want me here.”
“I always want you.”
I felt the urge to sigh, like those words had the potential to flip a release valve on all the pressure bubbling around in my chest.
“You sure? Even after…everything?” I finished lamely. He sank into a chair opposite me with a blank look on his face.
“Of course.”
Of course.That simple, that complicated.
“I’m sorry I didn’t call on the way over, but I was on the phone with my landlord. Yelling.” My eyes flicked up to Dylan, gauging his reaction.
His eyebrows bounced upward. “Really?”
“Yeah, he’s getting someone to fix the washing machine tomorrow.”
“That’s…great.” His lips tipped up as he tried to smile, but didn’t quite make it. He wasn’t sure, yet, what this had to do with him.
“And I should have fired Victoria months ago. She was toxic and pulling the team down.”
A divot appeared between his brows, then smoothed. “Alright,” he intoned, woodenly.
“And I never should have left you.”
That, at least, got his attention. His eyes lost some of that glazed detachment, focusing, darting around my face.
“It was probably one of the biggest mistakes of my life,” I went on, clammy palms scrubbing down my pants. “Not the biggest, though.I stopped being there for you. You’re so right, I withdrew from you a long time ago and I’ll never be able to make that up to you.” It hurt to think about all the time we’d lost, all the pain we were feeling now that could have been avoided if I’d just…tried. If he’d just worked a little harder onus.
Dylan’s elbows rested on his knees as he scrubbed his hands through his hair. “Tess, I was too harsh earlier. I didn’t mean what I said. All this is my fault. You wouldn’t have left if I hadn’t taken you for granted.”
“But it’s not just your fault, is it? You wouldn’t have sunk yourself so deeply into work if I had made sure you felt important to me.”
I watched as his jaw ticked at my admission.
“You are, by the way. Important. No matter what your salary is or where we live.”
His eyes went glassy and wet.
Mine felt prickly, too. “I’m sorry I didn’t make you feel that way before.”
“I’m sorry, too. I should have tried harder to be there for you instead of…”
