He holds his head at an angle. “Adrian please, can we just talk about this?”
“No,” I snap.
“Why not?”
“Because it will get us nowhere,” I reply.
“Do you still have feelings for me?” he asks quietly.
My stomach drops. “No,” I reply flatly. “I’ve met someone else.”
His face drops. “You’re lying,” he whispers.
“Am I?” I ask.
“I know you are. I know you wouldn’t have moved on from what we had so quickly.”
Once again hurt rips through me. He knows me a lot better than I care to admit. I need to get away from this shit.
“Nicholas, I don’t have time for this. Please leave.”
“Can we have dinner tonight?” he pleads.
“No.”
“Why not? Just as friends.”
“I have a business dinner on tonight,” I reply.
“Can I be your date?” he asks hopefully.
“Fuck. No. Stop it!” I snap.
“Can’t we be friends?” he murmurs.
“I have enough friends, I don’t want another friend.”
“I’m not going anywhere until you agree to have dinner with me,” he pleads.
“Stop it. You’re acting crazy. We are finished, and it was your decision! End of story,” I snap.
His sad eyes look right through me. “I made a mistake,” he whispers.
I close my eyes as pain once again lances through me. “You did.”
“Just dinner,” he stammers.
I stand in a rush. “Leave me alone, Nicholas. I can’t fucking compete with a dead man!”
His face drops and his eyes tear up as his chest rises. I drop my head in shame that I just said that out loud.
“Please Nicholas, leave me be. I can’t do this,” I whisper.
He closes his eyes and swallows deeply. He stands and waits for me to look up at him… I don’t and two minutes later I hear my door quietly open and close.
And once again the enigmatic Nicholas Anastas has left my life… and once again I am left feeling empty and gutted.
Natasha