“What if I did, Scout? The guy’s a jerk. Seriously, who does that?”
She frowned. Had he seen him? “You know what he did?”
Parker scoffed. “I can imagine. I mean, you’re here and he’s in Europe—”
“Europe? With who?” Something vicious and cold came alive inside of her. He was in fucking Europe? They just broke up! “How do you know all this?”
His mouth opened and closed. “I . . . I work with people who do business with him. I mean, the guy’s everywhere. People talk.”
“And you heard he was in Europe?”
“Paris, actually, for an extended visit.”
She could almost see the black webbing tightening over her heart like a suffocating cocoon, squeezing so tight she thought she might die. “Did he go alone?” she choked.
Parker’s expression looked uncomfortable. His fingers gently pinched at her chin as he eyed her sympathetically. “I don’t know many people who visit the most romantic city in the world alone.”
The cocoon tightened and something inside of her suddenly shattered under the vise of misery. And that was when she threw up.
Her head flipped forward, and right there, on the polished wood, whatever little bit of food she had in her belly came spattering out. Parker leapt to his feet. “Holy shit, Scout! Where do you keep the paper towels?”
She spit and whipped the back of her hand across her lips. Moaning, without answering, she rolled to her side and collapsed on the sofa. Parker moved around, mumbling and cleaning up her mess, then thrust a glass of cool water in front of her face.
“Here, drink this.”
She sat up weakly, took a sip, then pushed it away. Why bother? He was with someone else. She stared numbly at the wall. A flat screen was mounted against the exposed brick. What a waste. She didn’t watch television. All of this stuff was a waste, severance to ease his guilt for pretending to love her. He never fucking loved her.
She vaguely registered a much more flustered Parker sitting down beside her. He seemed unable to meet her gaze. He fidgeted as though uncomfortable in his own skin.
Folding her hands and wedging them between her knees, she awkwardly sat through the silence, aware of her friend intensely observing her. “Sorry,” she mumbled.
“Scout, this isn’t like you. I . . . I figured you’d be upset, but . . .”
“I fell in love with him, Parker. I swore I wouldn’t, but turns out I don’t always have control of everything.”
He blanched. “You don’t love him. I think you loved the idea of him.”
She turned and shot him a withering look, but she was too raw to act tough. She felt her face puckering into something that surely looked pathetic. Her words should have come out with a touch of hostility, but there was no bite left in her.
“What’s that supposed to mean, the idea of him? Meaning because he’s rich? Thanks a lot, Parker. I can see you’re still thinking as highly of me as ever—”
“No, not his money,” he said holding up his hands. “I just think . . . Patras is a complicated man. From what I understand, his last relationship was a train wreck at best. I just don’t think he’s the right guy for you, Scout. It has nothing to do with you. It’s him. Men like that don’t ever truly commit to anyone but themselves.” He sighed. “You can’t love him.”
I know.
She frowned and stared at her knees. “But he was committed. I was the one . . .”
Without touching her, Parker eased forward, his gaze searched hers. “If he was so committed, he wouldn’t have told you to go, Scout.”
The truth of his words hit her like a hammer to the chest. She was so tired. So emotionally exhausted, simply mangled, yet a part of her rejected his accusing words. Defensively, she snapped, “If he wasn’t looking for commitment, why did he ask me to marry him?”
Parker jerked back, his face losing a bit of color. “He actually proposed?”
She couldn’t stop the laugh that slipped out. It was a protective blanket to her wounded ego. “Don’t look so shocked, Parker.”
“But I am . . . I mean, I’m not shocked someone would want to marry you. You’re incredible. I just . . . can’t believe he actually tried.”
“Why? Why wouldn’t he try?”
“I guess I never honestly believe his feelings were sincere . . .” he admitted quietly.
She shrugged. “Well, maybe they weren’t. When I said no, that was it.”
They sat in silence for some time until she quietly admitted, “Maybe I should’ve said yes.”
Parker sat up and grasped her hands with a desperation she wasn’t prepared for. “No, Scout. No. You’re young and beautiful and deserve the time to make up your mind. Fuck him. Look at you. You look miserable. That’s his fault! He did this to you. That’s the real him.”