Fall to You (Here and Now 2)

I close my eyes and take a breath. “All I know is that the only thing that makes you happy is that bakery and…whatever it is you’re doing with your weekends.”

“You want the ring back?” she asks weakly.

“I want you to live your life. You deserve more than to put it on hold for me.”

Her lips part and she studies me.

“I’ll be okay,” I promise. And it’s true. One way or another, I’ll make it work. I can let the maid go and start cleaning the club myself or…something. There’s always a way.

“What if you’re still the only man I’m in love with?”

My heart stumbles, full and clumsy. “I love you too.”

“I’m trying to let you go,” she whispers. “Then I see you with my family or remember the way we used to laugh together. The way you touched me…”

I swallow, afraid to hope. If there’s any chance she’ll take me back, I’ll take it. “Then don’t let go.”

“I love you too much to give up, but I don’t trust you enough to take you back.” She climbs out of my car and I watch her walk away as I try to breathe around the bruises on my battered heart.

SHE’S STILL in love with him.

The words have repeated like an ominous drumbeat in my mind since I saw Hanna walk into Asher’s house on Max’s arm. She and I have been playing at this thing between us for over two months now. Every time I say goodbye to her, I swear to myself that it’s the last time, but inevitably, one or two weeks later, I’m summoning her again.

It’s selfish and unforgivable. She drops everything and rearranges her life to come meet me for a night, two if we’re lucky. But I can’t stop. She’s my breath.

And she’s still in love with him—should be marrying him.

“Hey, you doing okay, bud?”

I yank my gaze up from where I was studying my beer to see Asher frowning at me. “Fine. Just…” Just what? Heartbroken that the woman to whom I’ll promise nothing looks really damn happy with a guy who’d be one hundred times better for her than I am? Surprised that the woman who made me keep our relationship secret is still in love with the other guy? Fuck. Did this really come as a shock?

“Hey, Nate.” Maggie is all smiles and happiness as she heads toward the bar. People are chatting, music is playing, but it’s clear as day that the source of her happiness is being this close to Asher.

Asher wraps his arm around her waist and draws her in for a quick kiss. They’re absolutely, nauseatingly, deliriously happy together. Normally I’m glad for that. Asher deserves happiness. But tonight, I hate them both a little for having something I could only pretend at having.

When their quick kiss turns into something longer and steamier, I clear my throat.

Maggie pulls back, her cheeks burning red. “Sorry,” she murmurs.

“I’m not.” Asher grunts and pulls her back to him so her back is to his front. “You’re always welcome here, but I’m not going to stop touching my girl just because you need to hide from whatever Hollywood diva is giving you trouble this week.”

Hollywood diva. If only.

Maggie narrows her eyes at me. “Who is it this time? I heard rumors about Cyrus, but…”

Not my type. My type is curvier with dark hair and darker eyes, like black coffee but sweeter. Like dark chocolate but warmer. “Who says I’m running from a woman?”

Maggie and Asher exchange a look, and I’m pretty sure they’re laughing at me in their own secret couple code. Assholes.

“It’s so good to see Hanna here tonight,” Maggie says. “I’ve been worried about her.”

Asher nods. “She’s under a lot of stress. All you can do is make sure she knows you’re here if she needs you.”

&nb

sp; I want to ask what kind of stress. Do they know about her breakup? Do they know Max proposed and his ring waits for Hanna in her jewelry box? It feels so important that I know, but there’s no way I can ask that without tipping off Asher and Maggie to my relationship with Hanna.

Relationship? She’d probably call it an affair. Fuck, I should be calling it an affair.