Page 102 of You Rock My World
Dorian doesn’t reply.
I stare at him, seeing only the impenetrable wall that has risen between us. Because no matter what, I’ll never put Lily or Penny in a harder situation than they already are. They lost too much. Whatever implied threat Billie wanted to make with those photos, it worked. I have to give him up.
My heart breaks, and then I break, too. My hands fly to my face, my body shaking as the first tear slips down. Dorian’s arms wrap around me before I can stop him, his warmth surrounding me, anchoring me.
I almost push him away. But then a crushing thought slams into me:this might be the last time I can let him hold me like this.
So I let myself have it and sink into the safety of him, savoring the steady beat of his heart, the solid comfort of his body.
“I know.” His voice is rough, and his lips are pressing against my hair. “That’s why I needed time. I think best when I’m making music.”
I pull back, wiping at my face, anger seeping in through the cracks again. “And whatbrilliantconclusion did you come to?”
Before he can answer, my phone pings with the ringtone I assigned to Nadine’s messages.
Dorian watches as I pull it out, his hand still resting on my waist. “Who is it?”
I stare at the screen.
Nadine Fox
Report to my office first thing Monday morning
“My boss, making an appointment to fire me.”
“I’m going to fix this.”
I meet his eyes, feeling only despair. “How?”
He hesitates. “I don’t know yet.”
“Great.”
“But Iwill,” he says, voice fierce as he takes my hands and holds them between us. “Iwillmake it right.”
I stare at him, at the determination blazing in his blue eyes.
I want to believe him.
But I can’t. Not this time. If it comes down to choosing between him and my family, thereisno choice.
I glance down at our joined hands, at the way his fingers curl around mine. I lift my gaze, ignoring the regret already sinking in, and kiss him.
It’s different this time. Not playful or teasing, not desperate or rushed or even lustful.
It’s slow, weighted, andfinal.
It’s a kiss that tastes of goodbye.
A kiss that tastes ofnever again.
46
JOSIE
I spend the weekend in a stupor on my couch, avoiding my family. Like a coward, I don’t tell them how serious the “mystery woman” situation is or the risk I’ve unwillingly exposed them to. I hate what’s happening, but most of all, I hate that I have zero control over it. That no matter how much I squeeze my brain for a solution that will force Billie to leave me and my family alone, I can’t find one.
On Monday morning, I’m tempted to not even show up at the office. I mean, what’s the point? I honestly would rather be fired via email than have to listen to one of Nadine’s sanctimonious lectures. In the end, I head in just on the off chance that I’ve become over-pessimistic and my boss only wants an update on her star client’s latest negative press coverage.
