Page 118 of To Belong Together
“But this was never going to work, was it?” Her voice wobbled, and she couldn’t go on as she’d planned, listing all the reasons she wasn’t a suitable match for him. She might believe it all, but saying it would only debase herself when he already thought little enough of her.
His gaze trained on her.
“If you ever find someone you’re comfortable talking with, marry her. She’s the one you belong with. Someone who doesn’t have to pull every detail from you.”
She was already jealous of this woman, but clearly, it wasn’t Erin.
He gripped the back of his neck in a hold that looked painful, then dropped his arm. The jarring movement turned the light back on, providing a clear view of his glacial blue eyes. “I’m sorry for everything you’ve been through.”
His statement rang stiff and impersonal.
And then he left her, as she’d always known he would.
The furniturein the office at Gannon’s house had been mostly moved aside so the camera would only capture John, sitting on a simple black chair in front of a white wall. He watched Lina, the band’s social media manager, while he ignored the camera and the man pointing it at him.
No clocks hung in sight, but the weight of his muscles said this long day should’ve been over hours before. Instead, he was pushing through the interview they planned to pair with the “Wreckage” music video and the announcement about the show.
For the promotional piece to come together, they’d also have to nail down “Wreckage.” So far, they’d worked on the song all day and made little progress. John’s mood may have been part of that, so he understood why Lina and the band’s publicist, Carol, had pulled him out of the studio. He only wished the alternative to drumming hadn’t been to sit for the interview.
He’d just forced out another of the replies he’d rehearsed with Carol when his phone buzzed in his pocket. Since the interview footage would be edited anyway, he worked to free it, only realizing as he got the device in hand that he no longer had a reason to hope for calls from Erin.
Despite everything, he missed her already. Missed her humor and her easygoing camaraderie. Missed being the shoulder she could cry on. And he didn’t want Ellen to lose her house. Didn’t want Erin to invest everything she had in saving it when more than enough to cover the late payments sat in his accounts, waiting to be spent.
But Erin wasn’t the woman he’d thought, and his generosity would only reward her behavior. He shouldn’t be tempted, but dismissing the idea seemed as impossible as squelching his reflexive hope that the next incoming call would be from her.
This time, Kate’s name showed on his screen. She’d returned from her honeymoon on Saturday. Because of the funeral, he’d put off his plan to call and find out what she’d said to Erin. After learning about the foreclosure and the raise, after he just couldn’t bring himself to believe her when she’d claimed her interest in him wasn’t about money, he’d decided it didn’t matter.
But what if Kate knew something? Erin might not have been interested in dating at first, but he’d asked her out right away. When he’d tried again with the invitation to go car shopping, he’d still been comfortable enough that she wasn’t motivated by money.
It was the night of the reception when her actions no longer seemed to line up with what he expected from someone who trusted and wanted to be with him. If something had happened at the dance to prompt Erin to change, Kate might know what it was, and the insight could change everything.
He could go back to Erin, apologize, and beg her to take him back.
“I need to get this.”
Carol watched silently, but Lina stood. “Sure thing.”
The cameraman pressed a button, and the camera’s red light went off.
John swiped the screen to answer. “What’d you say to her?”
“Here I was afraid it’d be too late to call.”
“I’ve got a lot of work to do.”
The door swung open, and Tim appeared. He frowned at John, disapproving of the phone call, then turned to Carol and Lina. “How’s it coming?”
“One last question, then we’re done.” Lina’s light tone contradicted everything John felt, but she was trying to cover for him with Tim.
He’d have to thank her later.
“Stacy said you were upset.” Kate’s terse statement voiced anger John could easily match.
“Let’s not pretend to be friends. Tell me what you said.”
Tim lifted a curious eyebrow.
John turned his back as Kate answered.
