27. Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Seven
M addie
I decline Chance’s offer to pick me up on Sunday for dinner at his Dad’s. I wouldn’t survive the twenty-minute ride without breaking down. Already, I dread what we were going to do tonight.
I wipe my moist hands on my dress. It’s a teal gown that hugs my skin and goes with the cream pumps on my feet. I carry a cream-colored clutch purse to match and a minimal pendant and pearl earrings.
Classy and simple, all ready to break up with my fake boyfriend in front of his family.
I hail a cab and get in. The cab driver asks for the address and I give him. He does a double-take in the rearview mirror.
I roll my eyes and look out the window. Surely, he knows whose home I’m headed to. Probably wondering what someone like me has to do with people like them.
Hopefully, by this time tomorrow, the Island and everyone here would be a past life I won’t be revisiting anytime soon.
All their cars are outside once I get there. I’m the last one here. Great.
I check my phone and make sure I’m still on time. I am.
I climb up the steps to the door and ring the doorbell.
Please, anyone but Chance .
Sadly, my prayers go unanswered. Or more rightly, answered by a god who hates me.
Chance opens the door. He’s in a patterned shirt and jeans with boots. I sweep my gaze over him making sure to avoid his eyes.
He sighs as if that bothers him. “Come in.”
I skirt past him. The other person I see is Baxter. My smile is wide. “Hello! We meet again.” I stretch my arms and he holds me in a hug.
He pulls away and looks over me. “You look too good for a Sunday dinner. I’m jealous.” He glances over my shoulder, a smile in his eyes.
Both Chance and I don’t address that. By the end of tonight, there’d be nothing to be jealous about. We’d be over.
“You look amazing yourself.”
“That’s my MO.” He bows. “Can’t do different.”
“Oh, I know.” I slip my hand around the curve of his elbow. He lifts his arm seamlessly, giving me a handhold. “Where’s everyone?”
“Eager, aren’t you?” He beams, pride in his eyes.
If only he knows I’m trying to escape his brother. I’d take the entire Easton clan over Chance right now.
“Aunt Felicia and Lucy are in the kitchen. Dad’s choosing the wine with Landon.” He starts off. “Come on. The kitchen’s most interesting.”
Aunt Felicia beams as we walk in. “Maddie, my dear. We have missed you coming around.” She wipes her hands on her apron and comes to blow air kisses beside my cheeks. “Come, sit.”
“I was thinking I could help?”
She ushers me to a stool by the island. “What? No way. Not when you’re looking like a princess.”
“Maybe I should dress up too, then I won’t have to slice shit.” Lucy eyes her mother as she chops carrots.
Aunt Felicia shakes her head. “Even if you’re wearing the crown jewels, you’ll still do your tasks.”
Lucy walks past me. “Lucky,” she whispers, then she pauses. “You smell good.”
A blush heats my cheeks. “Thank you. And you—hmm.”
She laughs. “I look a mess, I know.” She shrugs. “I’ll clean up before dinner, I promise.”
I smile back. My eyes stray and fall on Chance. He stands by the door, looking half in, half out.
I swallow and look away, catching Baxter’s gaze. His eyes narrow and he looks between Chance and me.
“Aunt Felicia,” I say a little too loudly. “I should help.”
She sighs. “Fine, if you insist.”
I climb off the stool and stand next to her.
“You’ll taste.” She scoops a bit of sauce and holds it out to me.
The taste hits my tongue and I can’t help my sigh.
“Delicious!”
She smiles and gives me more to taste. Even though I’m occupied, I see Baxter inch toward Chance and speak to him in a low voice. I can’t make out what they’re saying, but they look in my direction often. And once, Chance meets my eyes. The look in his eyes causes me to sputter.
“It’s bad?” Aunt Felicia looks alarmed.
“No, it’s good.” I focus on her. “Very good. Just spicy.” That much is true.
“Then it’s perfect.” She drops the ladle. “We’re all done.”
I look up and Chance is gone, just Baxter is left. His eyes carry a look I can’t decipher.
Thankfully, Aunt Felicia gets in the way of whatever that is.
“Set the table, Baxter.” She takes off her apron. “Lucy and I will go get ready.”
They both leave and then I’m alone with Baxter.
I don’t like the look he’s giving me. “I can help set the table.”
I start to pick up the stacked dishes but Baxter catches my hands. His bigger ones swallow mine, warm and solid.
“Maddie.”
I meet his gaze. “What?”
He frowns. “Is something wrong?”
I shake my head. “No, why would you ask that?”
“Just an energy between you and Chance. Did something happen?” He glances at the door.
“No.”
“Did he hurt you? I can beat his bossy ass up.”
“God, no.” I press a hand to my face. “He wouldn’t do that.”
“I know.” He smiles. “Just want to be sure.”
I smile as big as I can to assure him. “I swear. I’m fine.”
He nods and releases my hand, pulling back. “Let’s get these dishes out then, shall we?”
He takes a stack and heads out. I stare after him, my eyes filling up.
They’re all so precious. I won’t just be breaking up with Chance. I’ll be hurting the entire family, but I have to. The longer this fake relationship stretches out, the more it’ll hurt. And our time is up anyway. Best to rip the band-aid off in the cleanest way possible.
Baxter returns and frowns. Quickly, I pick up the dishes and ease past him.
When I have a moment alone, I dab away the moisture in my eyes.
Thankfully, everyone is ready soon after and there’s no more time for me to wallow.
Everyone takes their seats and naturally, I’m placed next to Chance. My skin prickles with awareness. I can feel him, even though I keep my gaze on Dan. I don’t allow the conversation to stall, asking everyone more questions. Never allowing it to slip to a subject that includes me and Chance.
Only when we’re done with the main course do I look at Chance. He’s with a glass of champagne, choosing to skip dessert.
He meets my eyes and his chest moves with a resigned sigh.
There’s no backing out now. We have to do this.
How to start though…
I finish up my dessert and everyone’s having a glass of wine and still chatting easily. I take my glass and reach for the bottle. A drink would help me work up the nerve.
But as my fingers close around the neck of the bottle, Chance’s hand covers mine.
A warm thrill works through my body. I ignore the feeling and snatch my hand back, dislodging his hold a bit. Disquiet falls over everyone as they glance in our direction.
My first instinct is to play it off, but I pause that thought. This is the best time to break things off, now we have everyone’s attention organically.
“You always do that,” I whisper harshly.
“Do what?” His brows pull together.
“Always butting into my business with your fake chivalry.” Chance looks confused. I almost sigh with exasperation. “You know, controlling me. I can’t do this anymore.”
He gets it then and his eyes spark with understanding. “Maddie, calm down. We can talk about it.”
“No, no way! I’m done. It’s over. We’re through.”
I start to rise, but he catches my arm.
“You can’t mean that?”
The dinner table is so quiet I can hear my heartbeat. I search Chance’s eyes. What is he doing? This is the part where he says ‘Go if you want, I don’t give a fuck.’ But his soft, pleading gaze is nearly breaking me.
“I do. I can’t be with you anymore. I’ve got to move on.”
His jaw trembles. Is he hurt?
I force myself up. If I don’t, I’ll probably take my words back and that’s far from the plan.
He rises with me and blocks my path. “I know you have to do this.”
“We,” I bite out, looking up into his hurt eyes. “We…” agreed . Why is he making this so hard?
“I made mistakes. I lied—”
“That’s not what this is about,” I bite out. “Just let me go.”
“No.” He holds my arms in a firm grip and pets the spots where the men manhandled me with gentle thumbs.
Tears cloud my eyes at his tenderness. “Why are you doing this?”
“You have to know.” His voice is tight. “I never meant to hurt you. I messed up and I cannot take it back at this point, but I—” He exhales and shuts his eyes tightly before meeting mine again.
“I want you to know that you’ve changed me for the better.
It was a reckless decision… Trying to control you in the beginning.
That wasn’t fair and I’ll always regret that.
But since the moment I saw you struggling in the elevator… ”
A sob breaks from my throat and a tear runs down my face.
“In your adorable non-dress and your scared eyes, I knew I wanted to be there for you. I wanted to fix everything that goes wrong around you. I don’t know why.
” He runs a tender finger down my cheek.
“It’s what I’ve lived for every moment of the past three weeks.
It’s brought me more satisfaction than I’ve ever felt. ”
He pulls in a breath. “And I wish there was a better ending to this time with you. But I guess my fuckups were too much to forgive. Too grievous to let go.”
No. My heart breaks, over and over. I want you. For real . Please.
“So I have to let you go.”
I drop my gaze, unable to bear the hurt look in his eyes.
“I’ve lost you,” he chokes out. “I have to regret that I did all the wrong things and made that happen, but it’s okay. I’ll hold this time in my heart forever.”
He cups my cheek and presses a kiss on my forehead.
My body shakes as I cry, pressing my face against his chest. He hugs me tightly and works his hand into my hair as if he can hold me there forever.
I pull away and take a deep breath. “Goodbye, Chance.”
His eyes shutter and his gaze drops. I resist the urge to cup his cheek and kiss him, ease his hurt, but that’ll only worsen our pain. And confuse his family.
I wipe my eyes and turn to face them. The shock on their faces nearly makes me start bawling. I bite the inside of my cheek. “Goodbye, everyone.”
Then my eyes meet Baxter’s. He’s not shocked, just very angry.
Chin trembling, I turn away and race out of the Eastons’ home.