“Y-You’re leaving?” he stammered. “B-But I thought…your whole family…” His voice trailed off.
She experienced a flicker of sympathy for him. “Yeah, I’m the black sheep. The one they don’t mention. I don’t want to go into the family business. In fact, I hate Hollywood.”
He lifted his chin. “That doesn’t mean you can’t come to the premiere with me. We could have some fun. Or we could so something else. Dinner? A show? A picnic?”
The image of William Darcy, in his bespoke suit on a checkered picnic blanket in a park, nearly provoked her to laughter. He really thinks he likes me. The realization made her stomach plummet. How did that happen when I did everything possible to push him away? She averted her eyes from his achingly beautiful face, focusing on the door. “No, I can’t.”
?
?Can’t we at least give it a chance and see where it goes?” His voice had lost its earlier suave assurance and was rough with desperation.
This is the man who called you ugly and stupid, she reminded herself. “No.”
“Why not?”
The words flew out of her mouth before she had a chance to stop them. “Because I don’t even like you.”
He jerked as if she had shot him with a gun. The room was silent for a moment. “Okay…that’s a good reason,” he said finally.
Elizabeth stared down at her shaking hands. Had she been too cruel? She desperately wanted to escape the oppressively awkward atmosphere in the trailer. Surely there was nothing else she could do. If she stayed, she might soften the blow a little more, but it was still a blow.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, not knowing if he could hear her, and slipped through the door, escaping to the outside.
Chapter Ten
Darcy didn’t know how long he sat on the sofa simply staring at the wall. His thoughts careened wildly from one extreme to another.
I can’t believe she shot me down.
She’ll regret it.
How did I make such a fool of myself?
Why did I think she liked me?
What the hell is wrong with her anyway? All I did was invite her on a date.
Maybe she likes someone else.
What a debacle.
What if she tells someone about this?
What if she puts it on social media?
She doesn’t deserve me.
I don’t deserve her.
She sees right through me.
Why does this bother me so much?
Why did this bother him? Why couldn’t he move past it? Of course, he hadn’t been shot down by a woman in a long time…maybe ever. But was that why he found it so disturbing? He’d certainly dated some women who weren’t into him. A few years ago, Mira Curry had even cheated on him, telling him that he made a lousy boyfriend. His pride had been wounded, but he had mostly cared about keeping the details out of the press.
He wasn’t even dating Elizabeth. Why did her rejection leave such a gaping, black void in his chest?
She didn’t want to be seen with him.