“I need him to know that…that I might not be at the fight, but that my heart is with him. I need him to know how I feel Millie.”
“He’ll know. I promise.”
The tightness in my chest released as I sagged against the back of the sofa. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’m worried about you.”
“I’m fine, really, and it’s not like Patrick can get up to anything in the car. He’s a very private man so at least I’m reassured by that. He’s in his usual room at my parents’ house because you know they don’t condone sharing unless there is a wedding band on a finger. I’ll be fine.”
There was silence. “Who are you trying to convince?” she asked, her voice a concerned whisper.
I smiled, sadly. “Please don’t worry about me. My father won’t let anything happen to me. You just enjoy yourself with Carter while I’m away.”
“I will on the condition that you call and let me know how you are. I also want to know when you plan on moving in with me?”
Chuckling, my face lit with happiness. “We’ll talk about it when I get back.”
“Good! Because the security is much better here than where you live. Anyone can knock on your door.”
That wasn’t quite true, but I wasn’t going to argue. The thought of living with her gave me something to look forward to. But for Patrick we would have lived together after college, but there again, I let him talk me into this place.
“I need to go, Millie. Please don’t worry and we’ll talk soon. Don’t forget my message.”
“I won’t. Love you.”
“Love you.” I hung up, but stayed seated, my cell going back and forth in my hand.
Minutes went by before I heard a car pull up outside, which was what I needed to get myself moving.
Patrick would frown when he saw me because I had jeans and boots on. I figured that I needed to dress my outfit up a bit so I’d paired the jeans with a cream tank, and a cream silk blouse on top.
Hearing the knock on my door, I breathed deeply through my nose before answering because the nerves were back in my stomach again.
He stood before me in his usual navy blue trouser and blazer with a pale blue shirt. He was a handsome man but there was no spark between us. There had been a small one when we’d first met…the reason why I was in this mess…but that spark had died a long time ago and any hope that it would reignite had died after what he’d done to me. My skin crawled at the thought of being alone with him.
“We need to talk.” He stepped around me, waiting for my attention to be on him.
Sighing, wondering whether I could trust him, I slowly let the door close behind me and leaned against it. “I’m listening.”
He cleared his throat. “I want to apologize for the other night.” He impatiently brushed the hair from his forehead. He had a cowl at the front that constantly got in his way. But what did he expect with a head full of blond hair. “I don’t know what happened. I just lost it and didn’t think. I’m sorry, Evie. Can you forgive me?”
Stunned.
I wondered whether his words felt as alien coming out of his mouth as they did to me hearing them. He never apologized for anything, even when he was wrong so the fact that he did now made me nervous. It was as though he wanted something from me. Or he wanted me to be more complacent over the weekend at my parents’ house. There was something more to this than an apology.
“Please say something,” he requested with impatience, taking a step closer.
It took a lot not to cringe, but I stood my ground. “I don’t know what to say.” Because I can’t forgive you.
“I want you to stop moving away when I come close. I want you to say you’ll try and forget what happened so we can move on. I don’t want your family, especially your father, gett
ing wind of anything wrong between us.”
My father? I should have known.
“I can act.” For now!
Slipping around him, I grabbed my overnight bag and purse. “Let’s go.”