Page 38 of Rare Blend
I fold my arms, hating the raw, unsettled sensation building in my chest. My determination from earlier slips away more and more by the second. I take a deep breath, hoping I can turn this back around. “Here’s the thing, I don’t know if you heard, butI’m temporarily working at theHerald, and my first assignment is to do a piece on you. I couldn’t get out of it. I tried.”
His eyes narrow. “Not my problem. And I don’t do personal interviews. You’re welcome to write about the winery, but that’s it. Leave me out of it.”
He starts to close the door on me, but I put my hand out to stop him.
“Please, I promise it won’t be invasive. And I really would like to be friends. Really.” I’m begging now, and it’s not a good look.
He crosses his arms and takes a step back. Goose’s face peeks at me between his legs.
“So, is that a yes? A maybe?” I chuckle, nervously.
“The answer is no.” He laughs, but there’s no humor behind it, and rubs between his eyes. “We’re never going to be friends.”
What?
My chest sinks, and my face burns in mortification. He’s proven exactly the kind of person he is time and time again, and I keep expecting a different outcome. I’m done making excuses for him. He’s shy, he has anxiety, he’s stressed. News flash, we’re all suffering. It’s not justification to treat me like I’m less than. Silly me for thinking tacos and a ride home meant there was a nice guy buried somewhere in there. He wants to keep to ourselves and avoid one another? Well, he’s sure as shit going to get exactly what he wants now.
“Oh, well, okay then.” I bend and drop the tin of cookies on the doormat. “I’ll just leave these here and fuck right off. Don’t mind me.”
I turn and walk down the steps. I can’t get out of there fast enough.
“Marisa…”
Without turning, I keep walking. “No, it’s fine. I heard you loud and clear.”
Right before my door closes, I swear I hear him grumblefuck, but I don’t care enough to check. Or speak to him ever again. I’ve had enough. There’s only so many times I can humiliate myself in front of him.
CHAPTER 15
Ethan
PROVE IT
Fuck.
I lean my forehead against the door, closing my eyes as an overwhelming feeling of regret floods my senses.
Why am I like this? That was really fucking mean of me. I told myself the next time I saw her I was going to be cordial, act like a normal fucking person, especially after yesterday.
But then she shows up on my doorstep dressed in one of her sexy skirts, smiling so brightly, like the damn sun. Her eyes were wide and excited, if not a little nervous, too. And it pissed me off. It also didn’t help that I was already asleep and I’m not exactly the nicest guy when I’m abruptly woken up.
I had to rush in earlier than usual this morning due to an emergency with the harvester, and by the time I got home, I was dead on my feet, ready to crash.
There’s still no excuse good enough to justify why I continue to be my worst self in her presence. What the fuck is wrong with me? A beautiful, kind woman baked me cookies and tried to befriend me, even after all I’ve done, and I still rejected her.
Goose looks up at me, his eyes saying so much. I’m an asshole. He knows it. I know it. And I’m ashamed of myself.
I start to walk further into the living room, but Goose blocks me and whines, and then tips his head to the front door.
“What?” I ask as if he’s going to be able to provide an answer.
When all he does is cock his head, I shake mine and try to push past him, but he whines again.
“What?” I repeat.
He starts pawing at the door, his nose sniffing all around it.
“Is this about the cookies?”
