Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
I stepped back and shook off his hold. “There is nothing you can say to explain this away. You had plenty of opportunities to tell me. That night at your condo, you could have said something. I asked you questions—you could have told me! Any of the times we were alone making cakes. You’ve been lying to me for weeks. Worst of all, I let you. I should have pushed, but I was waiting for you to trust me.” I wiped my face. “My brother adores you, and you’ve been lying to him too.” A sob caught in my throat. “Now I have to go home and tell him the person I let into our home was nothing but a liar. Someone using us for whatever the hell reason.” I clapped my hand over my mouth. “I slept with you. And you were lying about your life the whole time.”
“I wasn’t using you. I swear to God, everything I told you about how I was feeling, every touch, was real.” He lifted his arm, his hand shaking. “I’m falling in love with you, Beth. I need you in my life. Please come with me, and we can talk.”
“You’re falling in love with me?” I laughed, the sound brittle. “Another nice lie. Good try, Ronan, but I’m not buying it. You think you can take me somewhere, lie some more, fill my head with your sweet words and I’ll fall for them again? That I’ll fuck you again?”
He narrowed his eyes. “It wasn’t fucking. Don’t say that.”
“Don’t bother denying it.” I exhaled hard, my chest aching with the need to scream. “I have nothing else to say to you but this. Leave me alone. Don’t come to the house. To the diner. Lose my number. I don’t ever want to see you again.”
I turned and hurried away. At the corner, I looked back. He was standing in the same place, his head hanging down, his shoulders dropped. I felt a pang in my chest and something stirred inside me, but I ignored it.
He meant nothing.
I just had to keep reminding myself of that.
Chapter Sixteen
Beth
I knew there was no point in going to the library. I walked home in a daze, my thoughts on a continuous loop in my head. I had been such a fool. Again. I had fallen for Ronan’s act. The sweet, helpful guy. Just the average Joe.
Except he was anything but.
I slipped in the side door, hoping Paige would be on the phone, but she was coming down the hall, looking surprised to see me.
“I thought you were heading to the library?” she asked, a laundry basket perched on her hip.
My sunglasses hid my eyes, and I cleared my throat before I spoke, hoping my voice sounded normal.
“I got a wicked headache. I’m going to lie down for a while,” I croaked, but it was easily explained by the headache pain. Paige seemed to buy it anyway.
“Oh shit, I’m sorry. Want a cup of tea or something?”
“No, just some quiet and dark.”
“You take all the time you need. We’ll have an easy supper—unless you’re seeing Ronan later?”
Hearing his name made my heart lurch. “No,” I managed to get out.
“Okay. Go rest. I’ll make sure Evan is doing his homework.” She shooed me downstairs, and I shut the door behind me, dropping my bag and burying my face into my hands. I summoned my strength and stumbled to the bed, falling in. The scent of Ronan hit me as I rolled—his masculine and rich cologne clinging to the sheets.
I buried my face into the linens and let the tears come. Ronan would never lie beside me again. I would never feel his strong body moving with mine, hear his whispered words of adoration. Feel his protective embrace or listen to the steady beat of his heart under my ear as I fell asleep.
It had all been a lie—one I’d fallen for, hook, line, and sinker. And now I had to start again.
* * *
I woke up, my eyes burning and dry. I washed my face and used some Visine to clear the red still lingering in my eyes. I couldn’t do anything about the weariness I could see in my face, but I hoped it would be explained by the headache. I brushed my hair, trying not to think about the fact that Ronan loved to run his fingers through my curls. I was surprised to find it was past seven and I had slept for four hours.
It was quiet upstairs. Paige was on the phone, and she waved as I peeked around the corner then went to check on Evan. He was in his room, Lucy sitting beside him. They were building something, using the kits Ronan had brought over. I wasn’t sure how I was going to tell Evan he had to pack them up so they could be returned, but I decided not to say anything just yet. Given what I had seen today, Ronan could easily afford to replace any amount of Lego he wanted.