Page 10 of Meant to Be
There was something in the wide-eyed innocence on her face that made him think she wasn’t being completely honest.
“Oh, God, you didn’t come here to harass Sydney, did you?”
“Would you care if I did?”
“Yes.”
“So you still like her?”
“No.” Mitch crossed his arms over his chest.
“Then why do you care if I harass her or not?”
“Because it’s not your business.”
“Funny. That’s what she said to me.” Her words and ensuing grin taunted him.
Mitch ran his fingers through his hair. “Leave it be, Lex.”
“Why? How come you’re not curious about why she’s here?”
“Because I’m not.”
“Liar.”
He blew out an annoyed breath. “If we ignore her, she’ll go away.”
“Coward.”
“Great day, Lexie. Sometimes…” He turned away, not wanting to make a scene in public.
“You should come over tonight.”
“I was at your place last night.”
“Come tonight. Around seven.”
He studied Lexie, red flags waving in his head at the twinkle in her eye. “You invited her to your place? After what she did, you’re bringing her into your home like she was long-lost kin?”
Her eyes shone with pity, which only ratcheted up his anger. “You should find out why she’s here.”
“Why? Why after all this time does it matter? For all we know, she’s married with six kids.”
Lexie’s expression looked a little too triumphant. “That would bother you, wouldn’t it? Because, even after leaving you at the altar, you still like her.”
“She didn’t leave me at… ” He let out an expletive. “Of the two of us, you were the one left at the altar.” He and Sydney hadn’t even set a date when their relationship imploded. Lexie had been two weeks from walking down the aisle when her fiancé impregnated his mistress. Everyone, including Lexie, agreed she’d been lucky in not marrying him.
Mitch was lucky, too, that his wedding had fallen through. After all, Sydney was too much under the control of her rich parents, who hadn’t thought much of him.
“Now you’re just being mean.” Lexie huffed. Then her eyes softened. “What if she’s dying? I work with terminally ill people every day. They all spend their last days making amends, resolving regrets, healing old wounds with people they loved.”
Mitch swallowed hard.Dying?“Did she tell you that?” The idea that Sydney could be dying nearly buckled his knees.
“No. She said to mind my own business. But why else would she pack up and move to rural Virginia to see you?”
He looked back toward Sydney’s office building. He’d lived a long time with the hurt and anger she’d heaped on him when she left. But his heart faltered a few beats at the thought of her dying.
“So. You’ll be there?”
His head nodded even before he consciously agreed.
“Good. Don’t forget to bring your manners.”
