CHAPTER 10
***
Annie
The first rays of sunshine filter through frost-covered windows with a delicate, ethereal quality. Frost crystals catch the sunlight, refracting it into tiny prisms of light that dance subtly across the room. It’s serene, almost magical, with the warm light casting a pale golden glow in the early morning hours.
I’m cocooned in warmth, Sam's arms wrapped around me, his chest rising and falling with each peaceful breath. The events of the night play on a loop in my mind—a perfect mix of tenderness and passion that I’ve only ever dreamed of with Sam. For the first time in years, everything feels right, like we’ve finally found the missing piece of the puzzle that’s held our relationship hostage somewhere between friends and lovers.
A faint buzz interrupts the quiet, the sound of Sam’s phone rattling against the nightstand. He stirs beside me, his arms loosening their hold. He groans softly as he reaches for his phone, and my sex pulses with the memory of his late night groans as he buried himself inside me over and over again.
He slips out of bed quietly, as if careful not to wake me. The mattress shifts as he rises. I lie still, not wanting to break the enchanted spell of this heavenly morning after.
I peek at his naked backside as he slips into his jeans and pads into the hallway. The door closes but doesn’t latch. I slide my hand over the warm spot he’s just vacated. I close my eyes, savoring the lingering heat, letting myself bask in the memories of last night—the whispered promises, secrets, and the delicious ache that lingers between my legs.
“Yeah, I’m sorry I didn’t call you back last night...” Sam’s voice is low, muffled by the door, but there’s something in his town that makes my heart stall. “I was sort of busy.”
I strain to listen, catching snippets of the conversation. When he says her name, it floats through the air like a dagger aimed straight for my heart.
“Come on, Chastity,” he sighs heavily. “...I just needed some time to think, you know? Things are complicated right now.”
My breath hitches, and a cold sweat breaks out across my skin, replacing the carefree warmth I basked in seconds ago. Sam speaks in a hushed, almost guilty, voice. The warmth of the bed, the comfort of the night we just shared—it all slips away, replaced by a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Complicated.
The word echoes in my head, each syllable cutting deeper than the last. I bolt upright, my heart pounding so hard it pulses in my ears.
Chastity.
A woman like all the others Sam gravitates to—the women who embody everything I’m not. I’m a fool for thinking last night was different, our chance at a new start. I thought last night meant something, that it wasn’t another complication in Sam’s life like the drunken night we spent together years ago.
Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but I swallow them back. I can’t cry now. Not here. Not in front of him.
I throw off the covers, and the sudden cold air hits my skin like a slap. My hands tremble as I gather my clothes, desperate to escape before Sam returns. I hurry to the bathroom, the only place I can fall apart in peace. I shut the door behind me, leaning against it as hot tears spill over. I’m mortified, humiliated, and more than anything, heartbroken.
I’m just a fling to him, a friend with benefits to spare, a momentary lapse in judgment while he needed some time to think . I’m a fool to think Sam could ever see me as anything more than his gal pal. His fuck buddy. I’ve spent years telling myself that night we never talked about was just a mistake, that it didn’t mean anything. But now, after everything, it’s clear it was never anything more than a fleeting wham bam for Sam. I’m the one who held onto the memory, romanticized it, and built it up in my mind into something it never was. I realize now that night was just like last night—the perfect end to a magical day and nothing more.
I wipe my tears, straighten my spine, and force myself to face the mirror. I’m not going to let him see how much he’s hurt me. When Sam walks back into the room, he’ll find a woman who’s already moved on—one who knows her worth and won’t settle for being anyone’s second choice.
As I pull on my clothes, my decision solidifies. I can’t stay here and keep pretending that there’s a future for us when there clearly isn’t. The job in New York suddenly feels like a lifeline, an escape from the tangled mess I’ve made of my life.
I’ll take the job. I’ll leave this place and never look back.
***
Sam
The bedroom door creaks open behind me while I’m still on the phone with Chastity. I glance over my shoulder as Annie emerges, fully dressed, her face pale and drawn. She doesn’t glance at me or acknowledge me, like I’m not even here.
I cover the phone with my hand and call out to her softly, “Annie, wait...” But she’s already halfway down the stairs, her footsteps quick and determined. My heart sinks. It’s the same as last time, only this time I watch her slip away.
“I can’t talk right now. Something more important than your inability to move on has come up,” I say firmly with an edge of frustration in my tone. The words come out sharper than I intended, but my patience with Chastity has worn thin. Annie’s my priority.
“I should have been honest with you from the beginning.” I say as a pang of guilt smacks me in the gut. I’m not a cruel person and would never intentionally hurt Chastity’s feelings, but I have to be honest with her even if that means being blunt. “You were right to be jealous. I’ve never forgotten Annie’s birthday. I hope you find someone who’ll never forget yours.”
I end the call and rush to get dressed, my mind racing. Last night wasn’t just a one-time thing; it was everything I’ve ever wanted with Annie. I can’t let this end like it did years ago, with both of us pretending nothing happened. We’ve avoided the truth that’s been staring us in the face for all of our adult life. We need to talk this through before history repeats itself.
I pull on a sweater and socks, barely noticing the cold seeping into the room. All I can think about is going after Annie. Something spooked her. If it wasn’t the call, then it’s me.
I rush downstairs, my heart pounding as I take the steps two at a time. Ryan huddles in front of the fireplace stacking wood on the grate while chatting with Gary like it’s any other morning. But it isn’t like any other. I’m on the brink of losing everything.
The men blur as I pass quickly to the kitchen doorway. Julia leans against the counter, cradling a mug between her palms. The warm, rich aroma of fresh coffee fills the air, mixing with the savory scent of bacon, and yet, none of it feels right. Not with the way my stomach twists into knots.
My heart pounds so hard, I barely hear anything else until Annie’s voice cuts through all the noise in my head.
“I’ve decided to take the job in New York,” she says. She stands rigid with her back to the doorway, her shoulders squared, and her head held high, like she’s bracing herself. Every word she says is a blow to the hope I’ve been clinging to. “When can we set up the video call?”
“That’s wonderful.” Julia’s eyes widen as if pleasantly surprised, but I can’t focus. “You’ll love Quantum Digital Group. Evelyn’s a doll. I’ll text her after breakfast.”
A jolt of panic stabs me in the gut. I force myself to step further into the kitchen, dazed by Annie’s news. The sinking realization that things have already spiraled out of control hits me. My mind races as I replay every moment from last night. Where did I go wrong? Why didn’t she tell me about the job offer? Why is she making the decision to leave now?
“Thanks. I’d like to get the ball rolling as soon as—” Annie’s voice falters as she follows Julia’s gaze.
Her words trail off as she turns. I watch her closely as panic claws its way up my throat. When her eyes finally meet mine, time slows down. Her eyes widen, and for a split second, I think I regret flickers in them, but it’s gone as quickly as it came.
Words stick in my throat as if verbalizing my fear will shatter the fragile silence between us. Annie’s guarded and quiet, I want to pull her into an embrace and hold her to my heart forever—anything that will stop her from leaving.
“New York? You’re leaving?” The words hang in the air, heavy with everything I’m afraid to lose.
Julia sets her coffee on the counter as she glances between us. The silence is suffocating, the air thick with tension. Ryan and Gary step into the kitchen behind me. Their footsteps and conversation halt abruptly as the mood of the room shifts. Confused stares shift from Annie to me, but I can’t tear my eyes away from Annie. She’s my everything. We came so close to being everything to each other.
Julia’s voice cuts through the stillness, tentative yet probing. “You didn’t know?”
Her question is a fuse waiting to ignite, and I know in my gut that everything is about to unravel.