Deal Makers (Dealing with Love 3)

He takes several steps back, jaw clenching so hard I’m surprised it doesn’t crack. Drew stares me down for a good minute before speaking. “Please leave.”

“What?”

He walks to the front door and swings it open. “Please leave before I say something I’ll regret.”

I gesture between us. “Is that really how you want to end this conversation?”

He drops his forehead against the wood. “You’ve said more than enough, Charlee. Please...just go.” His words are so quiet I have to strain to hear them.

“Drew—” I reach for his arm but he pulls it away.

He shakes his head. “Goodbye, Charlee.”

My jaw drops. “That’s it?! That’s all you’re going to say? This could be the last time we ever see each other. I don’t want to leave things like this.”

He takes another step back, opening the door as wide as it will go. His eyes dart between me and the hallway, silently giving me my answer.

“Drew—”

This time he looks away entirely.

Well, look at that: I’ve been dismissed.

I hold my hand up. “Fine. I’m going. But for what it’s worth, I do love you. More than anything. I hope you can see that one day.” I kiss the tips of my fingers and briefly place them over his heart. “Goodbye, Drew.”

The floodgates burst as soon as the door closes behind me. I’m crying so hard it’d be impossible to drive, so I sit behind the wheel of my car for at least an hour before I can finally get myself together. Thankfully, the trip to my house is only five minutes in the wee hours of the morning. By the time a fresh wave of sadness hits, I’m in my bed, hoping I’ll cry myself to sleep so I don’t have to feel this gut-wrenching pain anymore.

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

CHARLEE

Are you sure you want to do this?

That annoying voice in my head hasn’t shut up since I left Drew’s house last night.

I flip the Express Mail envelope in my hand, for probably the hundredth time, making sure it’s sealed then I check the front again to ensure the postage stamp is still there. I don’t know why this is so fucking hard. I’m being stupid, right? I shouldn’t be this hesitant to send in the annulment papers when it’s the right thing to do.

But what if it’s not?

If I mail these, there’s no turning back. It’d be the final nail in the coffin, so to speak. With the way Drew and I left things, he’d definitely see this as a slap in the face. A final fuck you. But if I do nothing, we’re back to square one.

Damn it.

I take a deep breath and tell myself to just throw it in the mail. Once it goes down the hatch, it’s in the hands of the United States Postal Service. I stick the envelope into the slot but I can’t find the will to let go. Ugh, why does this feel so wrong? It’s not like I have a choice though, right?

Right?

“Excuse me,” a woman says. “Can I get in there, please?”

Shit! I didn’t realize anyone was behind me. In my surprise, I dropped the envelope.

On. The. Other. Side.

I bang my fist against the wall. “No-no-no-no-no!”

“Dear, are you okay?”

I turn around and find a little gray-haired lady with concern in her eyes. Probably because she’s wondering if I’m some sort of psycho.