Page 122 of The Dance
“Can we just talk inside?” he pleaded.
“Yeah, sure.” I waved for him to go back into the house. When he turned and walked inside, I followed, closing the door behind me.
“Maybe your room?” he suggested.
I arched a brow. “My room? Why my room?”
He let out a breath. “Because anyone can walk inside. I want a little privacy, if that’s okay.”
“Fine, whatever.”
He motioned for me to lead the way, and we went upstairs to my childhood room. In all the years, it hadn’t changed one bit. My cheerleading trophies were still on my bookshelf, and pictures of me with my friends from high school were still tacked to a corkboard.
Eddie closed the door. “Look, I’m sorry for not believing you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, okay.”
“Look at it from my perspective, sunshine.”
“I have,” I clipped. “Many times. Over and over.”
“I was pissed, and clearly, you two have some sort of history.”
“But that doesn’t mean I cheated on you.”
“I know.” He sighed and looked up at the popcorn ceiling. “After the shit with Karla, I just couldn’t see past what I assumed was the truth.”
“But why did you never return my calls?” I leaned against the small desk along the wall.
“I assumed you’d feed me more bullshit.”
“It wasn’t bullshit.”
“Okay.” Eddie nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe you, but your dress was disheveled, and you were in there a long time. I knew no matter what you said, I would assume you cheated on me.”
“Thanks for believing in what we had.”
He took a step forward and cupped my cheek as I peered up at him. “When we were together, you made me the happiest man alive. Thinking you were with someone else crushed me.”
“You walking away and never looking back crushed me,” I admitted.
“And I’m sorry for that.”
My throat tightened at his apology. I’d waited almost two years to hear him utter those words.
Eddie slid his thumb along my bottom lip, and I swallowed, so many emotions swirling inside of me.
“I never got to tell you, and maybe it doesn’t matter now, but I was so in love with you.”
A tear slid from the corner of my eye. “I was in love with you too.”
“And now?”
“Now I’m engaged to another man.”
“Do you love him?” he asked, not removing his hand from my face.
“I …” I hesitated because what I felt for Blake differed from anything I felt for Eddie. I couldn’t explain why or how or any reason behind it other than they were different men, and both had a piece of my heart. “Yes.”
