37. Chloe
37
CHLOE
I stared at Will, my heart beating rapidly.
I felt let down. I wanted to see Sean badly.
I just realized the full extent of my want right now.
I was still trying to reconcile my disappointment that this wasn’t Sean when Will spoke.
“Chloe, I need to talk to you,” he said.
I blinked.
Sean was the handsomer, more powerful, and dominating version of Will.
Which meant I needed to keep my heart locked up and away before I began anything with Sean.
My body definitely wanted to be back in his arms. I wanted to be touched by Sean and caressed by him.
But I sure as hell would not let myself go through heartbreak again.
“Is everything okay?” I asked, taking a step back and looking at Will.
He ran his hand through his hair.
“I’m so sorry, Chloe. I thought it would be a good idea to talk to you in person. I want to apologize for the way I behaved last time.”
I didn’t really care for his apology.
The man who had fled at Henry’s rightful outburst?
Argh. But I did want him to make the effort—to hear him admit that he’d hurt me.
“Well, go on,” I said, crossing my arms across my chest.
“I behaved like a fool, leaving you at the doorstep when you were ready for me, and for that, I apologize. I panicked.”
He waited, shuffling his feet, as though he wanted me to tell him all was forgiven.
“I’m not good with people who have a temper. When I saw your brother angry and swearing that night, I didn’t want to enter that situation. I didn’t want to deal with the possibility of his anger directed at me. I was just an accountant, looking for a fun date.”
I could feel his earnestness, but I was long past forgiving men for treating me badly.
I reached for the door handle, ready to shut the door, when Will stopped me.
“Walk with me, please?” Will asked, placing the bouquet in my hand.
I held it, thinking of the five bouquets of roses and orchids that Sean had ordered for someone else.
What an over-the-top romantic gesture that was.
I couldn’t help but feel envious.
This one felt like it belonged to my world.
An apology bouquet that he’d probably bought at the grocery store.
A bouquet from someone who ate at the same restaurants I did, who shopped the clearance racks first, and who worried at the thought of the bills at the start of a month.
But Will had abandoned me once already.
I had felt like I was drowning in icy-cold waters when I saw the empty doorway on our supposed date night.
The bitter taste of being stood up at my doorstep was not something I’d ever forget.
I’d had to fight my way back up to normalcy once already when Bruce had abandoned me while I was still in my wedding dress.
Was Sean getting ready to abandon me too?
Had he met someone else at the conference—someone who lived in New Jersey?
Was that what the five bouquets were about?
I’d been so guarded around Sean, showing him very little of my life, and he still behaved so inexplicably.
His curt text messages had hurt.
I knew Will’s bumbling apologies were a clear sign he’d disappoint me again—and I wouldn’t be surprised.
I nodded, swallowing hard.
“I can do a short walk around the block,” I said.
I grabbed a coat and accompanied Will for a walk.