Chapter 31
CHAPTER 31
EVE
T he cool sea breeze drifted through my jacket, carrying a chill that seeped into my bones. Dread settled in my heart as I stood there on that corner, realizing the only relationship I’d ever enjoyed–the longest one I’d ever had–had come to an abrupt end.
Spencer seemed happy to be finished with it, and I couldn’t blame him. He hadn’t been looking for a charity case when Louise had set us up.
And he very much preferred to avoid the social scene. I’d learned that about him very quickly during the time we’d spent together.
That didn’t make the words he spoke sting any less. I tried to play along, faking my emotions about our break-up–or rather, our fake-up.
He’d tried to break it to me gently. I appreciated that as I fought to pretend to be okay.
I had thought maybe we’d go to one last dinner together to celebrate our win, but he’d put a quick end to that. I couldn’t blame him. He’d spent a fair amount of money entertaining me over the past few months. I’m sure he didn’t want to waste another couple of hundred on a last hurrah.
He offered me a tight-lipped smile before he spun on a heel and took a step away from me.
“Hey, Spencer,” I called after him.
As he turned to face me, the weight of the moment pressed down, thickening the air. My mind raced through a million different confessions, each fighting for release, yet when I opened my mouth, uncertainty choked the words, leaving me gasping for a way to fill the silence that stretched between us.
What had I planned on doing?
For a second, I thought about confessing everything, about telling him that I thought I may be in love with him. Then I realized what an awful idea that was. My stomach twisted into a knot as I imagined the burst of laughter that would follow such an admission.
He’d probably tell me he was dating my sister.
My fear squashed the idea of being honest. So, instead, I murmured, “I wish you all the best. Good luck with your sequel.”
He offered me a fleeting smile as he bobbed his head. “Thanks. You, too. I hope everything works out great for you.”
I licked my lips as my smile faltered, trying to distract myself from the emotions bubbling under the surface.
“Bye, Eve.”
“Goodbye, Spencer,” I said, a lump forming in my throat.
He turned away from me and strolled away, shoving his hands casually into his pockets.
I spun on a heel and hurried away in the opposite direction, rushing to get to my apartment before the whirlwind of regret and sadness boiled over.
I made it as far as the next corner, rounded it, and collapsed on a bench there as the floodgates opened.
Hot tears streamed down my cheeks and a sob escaped me. I pressed a hand against my downturned lips, pleased that no one even bothered to stop as I wept on the bench.
I tried to head for my apartment a few times, but my clouded vision made it too difficult to walk.
I couldn’t seem to control my emotions. Spencer had been the only good relationship I’d ever had.
We weren’t a real relationship , my mind reminded me. Maybe that’s why I’d found it so easy.
Every quiet moment alone brought back flashes of our time together–the laughs, the shared confidences, and even the awkward silences that somehow brought us closer. As much as I tried to convince myself our connection was just a convenient fabrication, my heart knew the truth–for me, it wasn’t just pretend.
I’d connected with Spencer on a personal level when we’d spent time together. From the arcade to the giant bear that sat on my bed, he’d made me smile, laugh, and enjoy life.
And now we had come full circle. Now, he’d made me cry.
The ease with which he’d dispatched our relationship had reminded me of why I didn’t date. And it made it clear that he didn’t share my feelings. For him, this was fake.
I’d been used, but because I allowed myself to be used. I’d agreed to it.
Fresh tears flowed, my lips tugging into a frown as I sank my head into my hands.
“Eve?”
Panic made my stomach quiver as I recognized Louise’s voice. I couldn’t let her see me like this.
I quickly wiped away my tears as I leapt to my feet, finding her hurrying toward me with concern etched into her pretty features. Theo followed behind her, his eyebrows knitted.
“Eve? Are you crying?” Louise asked.
“No,” I said with a sniffle, feeling ridiculous lying to her.
“Your eyes are red, your nose is red, and your face is all splotchy,” Louise answered. “Tell me again you weren’t crying.”
I lifted a shoulder, a penitent expression on my features. “I wasn’t crying?”
“Very funny, Eve,” she answered. “What happened?”
She glanced around. “Where is Spencer?”
My heart leapt into my throat, worsening the lump that already resided there. “Uhh…”
Louise cocked her head, waiting for my response.
I considered lying, telling her I’d canceled our date because I’d gotten some bad news. Maybe I could say I lost a contract or…some obscure aunt had died.
But as I raised my gaze to hers, I found myself unable or unwilling to do that. She was going to find out eventually, and I couldn’t lie anymore.
With a lick of my lips, I shook my head. “Let’s talk after your date. Maybe tomorrow?”
By then I should have recovered and not be a weeping mess.
“Well, that just won’t do,” Louise said with a shake of her head, one hand on her hip. “No, you’re going to tell me tonight.”
I flicked my glassy eyes to Theo. “No. You’re on a date.”
“Which can wait,” Theo answered, his gaze filled with concern. “Lou, go with your friend.”
“That’s not necessary,” I answered with a shake of my head.
Louise wagged a finger at me. “Now, don’t you tell me what is necessary, and what isn’t. You are sitting on a park bench in tears. I would be remiss as your best friend if I didn’t take care of you.”
Theo rubbed Louise’s shoulders, and the simple action made me feel worse. Just seeing how perfect they were together made my heart ache. I’d really set myself up for this, though.
With a slow nod, I agreed with her. “All right,” I said softly.
As Louise’s comforting arm wrapped around me, Theo offered me an expression of concern, part reservation. My emotional turmoil had ruined their evening.
Theo pulled his keys from his pocket. “Let me drive you ladies to Eve’s.”
“I can walk,” I answered.
“Nonsense,” he said. “You just sit here, and I’ll bring the car to you.”
Louise eased me onto the bench, her arm tightly around me, protective as a mama bear as Theo disappeared around the corner. Within minutes, he pulled up in his SUV.
Louise loaded me into the back, then climbed in next to me, foregoing the passenger seat in favor of sticking close.
At least I’d ended up with a lovely best friend out of this deal.
We arrived outside of my apartment a few minutes later.
“I hope you feel better, Eve,” Theo said.
“Thanks,” I answered in a shaky breath, managing to hold myself together as we climbed out of the car.
But as I unlocked my door and pushed inside my apartment, a new wave of emotion swept over me, and I struggled to hold back my tears.
“Now, do you want some tea, or do you want to tell Auntie Louise what happened?”
I plopped onto the couch, wiping away a rogue tear that had fallen to my cheek and patted the cushion next to me. “Let’s get it over with.”
“Okay,” she said softly as she sat down and took my hands in hers. “What is it, sugar?”
I swallowed hard. “Spencer and I broke up.”
Her eyes went wide. “What? Oh, darlin’. What happened? Did you have a fight?”
I shook my head, my gaze falling to our clasped hands.
“Now, you may not think it’s fixable, but darlin’, everyone has arguments. And you’ll figure it out. You just need some time–”
“We didn’t have a fight,” I choked out.
“Then what?”
“Oh, Louise,” I said with a deep sigh, “you’re going to hate me.”
I shook my head. I had to confess everything, so this made sense. And I felt awful about it. I felt awful about everything right now, but if I lost Louise too…
It was my own fault, my mind said. I’d played fast and loose with my life and, as usual, I lost. What had I been thinking?
When I was careful, I lost. But when I tempted fate, of course, I’d lose. I didn’t have luck on my side like some people. This wasn’t a romantic comedy. We weren’t destined to fall in love and spend a lifetime together.
“That couldn’t happen,” Louise said as she rubbed my arm. “Now, tell me.”
I pressed my lips together, tears threatening again as I raised my eyes to meet hers. “I…Spencer and I…”
“Yeah?”
“Louise, we…we were never really dating. We faked the whole thing.”
Her expression turned blank as she stared at me. “What? But you were perfect together.”
My features pinched. “I’m sorry, but it’s true. Spencer…he told me on our first date that he wanted you to find happiness, and you wouldn’t date unless he did. He said he didn’t want to go through meeting all the people you’d throw at him, so he asked if we could…
I hesitated, swallowing hard and slowing my voice. “He asked if we could fake date. Just…agree to date until you found your happiness with someone.”
“Did he?” Louise’s voice was pensive as her brows knitted and she stared at my marred coffee table.
“Yes. And I agreed to it. I…went along with it.”
Tears fell to my cheeks again. “I was so stupid.”
Louise snapped her gaze back to me. “It wasn’t fake for you, was it?”
Ruefully, I shook my head, sniffling as I desperately tried to stop myself from crying. “It started out…sort of like that. I didn’t… think much about it but then…we got closer and…I…”
I couldn’t continue. My voice broke, and I hung my head.
Louise rubbed my back as I wept before I grabbed a tissue from the small box on my table and pressed it to my eyes before blowing my nose. “I was so stupid. I really set myself up for a fall. I shouldn’t have let myself fall for him.”
“Now, darlin’, this isn’t your fault. This is Spencer’s.”
I shook my head as I glanced at her. “As much as I’d like to be angry with him, Louise, it’s not his fault. I agreed to his plan. I knew he’d walk away from me in the end. If he wouldn’t have been so…special, and I wouldn’t have been so stupid.”
“You aren’t stupid. And I think Spencer has feelings for you. He just won’t admit it. He’s scared. I think…I think he feels the same way you do.”
I huffed out a laugh as my tears stopped for a moment. “This isn’t a romance movie, Lou. I wish it was. But…it’s not. He more than happily walked away from me tonight. He’s the one who brought it up.”
I wagged my finger at her. “Please don’t be mad at him. He was very clear with me about what was going to happen.”
“I’ll bet he was,” she answered, her jaw tight. She flicked her gaze to me, pulling me into a hug. “Well, darlin’, you have every right to be upset. No matter what you agreed to, you hoped for a genuine connection because you are a genuine, sweet person. And now you just cry your little heart out on my shoulder. I’m not going to leave you, darlin’. And I’m going to make sure you find happiness. I promise.”
I settled against her, my heart aching. I knew she meant well, but after this, I wasn’t certain I ever wanted to date again.