That Secret Crush (Getting Lucky #3)(74)

He pulls on the back of his neck, and a vein stands out on his forehead. Whatever happened is causing a lot of stress. “I . . . uh, I’ve been doing some thinking.”

“Okay,” I drawl out, taking a step closer, trying to ease the tension that’s holding him captive. “Is it about the restaurant?”

“Sort of, yeah. You know it’s a big project, and my dad’s relying on me.”

“Yes, but in just a few days you’ve already painted a beautiful picture of what’s to come. It’s going to be amazing, Reid.”

“Yeah, thanks.” He looks over my shoulder, still not meeting my eyes. “So it’s a lot of work. I’ve had a hard time in the past trying to keep it together during a project like this, and I don’t think I can handle it all.”

“What do you need help with? I’m here for you.”

I reach for his hand, but he takes a step back. And that’s when the hairs on the back of my neck rise, a shiver of anxiety passing through me.

“That’s what I need to talk to you about.” He lets out a deep breath, sticks his hands in his pockets, and stares at the ground. “I think we should, you know, maybe take a break or something.”

My heart hitches in my chest, and my entire body goes still. Did I just hear him correctly? Take a break? That can’t be right. Just last night we were making promises about the perfect date before the soft opening. What happened between then and now? What’s made him do this about-face?

“A break?” I glance around. “Is this some kind of weird joke you’re playing on me? Because I really don’t find it funny.”

“Fuck,” he mutters, turning away. “It’s not a joke. I need to focus on the restaurant. I won’t have time to spend on you, and you should focus on yourself too. Finish up school, get Knight and Port ready, train with my dad. There’s no time for us.”

“There’s time if you make time. It doesn’t need to be one or the other.”

“I can’t have both.” He turns back around, his jaw firmly set. “I can’t manage both, and in the end, I’m just going to disappoint you—like I’ve been disappointing you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Come on, Eve,” he says, his curt, condescending tone lashing me right in the heart. “You can’t say our relationship has been easy.”

“It’s not supposed to be easy,” I shoot back. “If a relationship is easy, then you haven’t broken the surface of the emotions that make someone the person they are. We’ve had our ups and downs, but every relationship does; that’s what makes you stronger.”

“It’s only going to get worse. Don’t kid yourself.”

“Why? Why do you think it’s going to get worse? Because you’re taking on a new responsibility? Because you’re starting something new? Of course it’s going to be stressful and hard at times, but that’s why you have me—to lean on.”

“I know you think I can be a better man, the man you deserve, but I know that’s bullshit,” he snaps. “People can’t change. I can’t change.”

Caught off guard at his abrupt confession, I take a step back, my feet aching from my long shift. “I don’t want you to change. I like you for the man you are.”

A sarcastic laugh pops out of him as he looks down and shakes his head. “You’re delusional then.”

“Excuse me?”

He doesn’t answer; instead, he jumps to the last thing I expected to hear tonight. “Might as well end it now before I fuck up the restaurant and hurt you even more.”

“End it? Now we’re breaking up? I thought you just wanted to take a break.”

“They’re the same fucking thing.” He tosses his hand up in frustration.

“So.” I take a deep breath. “You’re breaking up with me because you think that’s what’s best . . . for the restaurant.”

“Yes, and for you. For everyone. This way we’re not sneaking around; we’re not getting distracted. You focus on your shit—I’ll focus on mine.”

“Oh, how nice. Should we high-five in passing too? Just drop all the feelings we’ve developed, and go back to just being friends?”

“Sure,” he says, the sarcasm starting to build in his voice. “If that’s what you want, I’ll hand out a high five here and there.”

I push at his shoulder. “Don’t be an ass. Don’t use that to push me away right now.”

“I’m not using it—it’s who I am. You should know that by now. You’ve known me for over a decade. What you see is what you get.”

“That’s a lie.” I step closer to him, my breath misting through the air between us. “That’s a lie, and you goddamn know it. You’re not the irritable prick you like to make yourself out to be, the one you showcase for the world. You’re a beautiful soul with a loving heart and a caring mind. This guy who’s standing in front of me, he’s not the Reid I know. He’s just a placeholder for the man I love.”

His eyes widen right before he shakes his head and casts his eyes down again. “You don’t love me, Eve.”

“Don’t tell me how I feel.” I step closer, giving him no choice but to meet my eyes. “If I say I love you, then I freaking love you, and you need to accept that.”