Frayed (Torn #2)(57)

With a huge lump in my throat, I looked up to the man whose body I had reveled in. The man who brought me to such delightful heights I hadn’t known possible. The very one who saved me and helped me breathe again. “With every fiber in me and with all of my heart, I thank you for…everything.”

My hands wanted to reach out, but I knew better. Funny, how we were on this same spot only two nights ago, inseparable and unable to get enough of each other’s bodies. Now, we stood like strangers. I knew we would’ve parted anyway, but I didn’t expect it to be this cold and distant. I was always thinking that someday we’d even joke of what had happened between us during our summer here. I guess I had thought wrong. “I suppose we’ll see each other around in LA then.” I tried to sound light except I failed miserably. The urge to hug him was strong, but the thought of him pushing me off his body made me think otherwise.

Taylor was composed, bored and indifferent. He gave me an irresistible smile before walking away while my eyes followed him. “Sure. Don’t forget to send me an invitation for the wedding,” he yelled off, not looking back.

“Taylor…” I murmured to the night. My eyes watched the man walking away.

I’ll miss you.





Chapter 24


Trista


Taylor, as promised, left the next day without saying a goodbye. Going through those couple of days was rigorous. I was counting down the hours until we were leaving for London. Then, maybe, my sanity could comeback to me.

No one really understood how relieved I was when we boarded the plane in Athens to head to London for the weekend , before we were going back home.

We were staying at Claridges for our entire weekend. The hustle and bustle of the city of London brought good vibes in my down and out demeanor.

“Home sweet home,” Lindsey announced as she opened the door to our hotel suite.

“Sweet!” Emma chimed ahead of me.

We were dragging our luggage on the small pathway when the three of us froze in shock. “Holy shit!” We exclaimed as a dark figure stepped in front of us.

“Surprise?” Carter beamed, looking like a hot stud , t , t hose dark eyes never leaving Emma.

Lindsey pushed him out of the way. “Surprise my ass crack, Carter. Instead of freaking Emma out with your stellar-stalker-gawking efficiency, why don’t you make use of yourself and put this luggage away?”

Carter moved closer to Emma and motioned to get her luggage away from her tight grip, but she just stood there like she didn’t know what to do.

“Snap out of it, Emma! Now move that chunky ass out of the way. I need to unpack and whatever.” I barked at her, just enough for her to get out of that weird Carter funk.

Bass Cole better hold on to this woman tight cause the ex was officially back, and he’s out to get her back.

After we finally picked which rooms we wanted, we agreed to be ready in two hours to dine somewhere.





***



“Ready?” Lindsey asked through the door whilst giving it a knock. I could hear her heels thump on the floor while she paced.

With a heavy sigh, I scrambled to hunt down my gold clutch to go with my dress. I was in the middle of shoving my lipgloss and credit cards into the tiny bag when Lindsey yanked my door open dramatically. She was dressed in a corseted, crepe, red dress with gold heels. Her long dark hair and brown eyes made her look sophisticated and righteously gorgeous. “This shit is a disaster. Dimitris and I had a major fight, and now Emma is inside her room talking to Carter. What’s the plan? For Carter and Emma, I mean.”

I smiled at Lindsey as I shook my head. “Like we need one? Emma’s a big girl. She can handle it, I hope.” The woman knew what she had with Bass. This was all up to her now.

My phone was sitting on my bed and I anxiously glanced at it before sticking it in with the rest of my items in the tiny clutch. No messages from Taylor. I knew we parted under the most radical circumstances, but I hoped that he could at least send me a text message or two, which was silly of me since we had never exchanged numbers. So, here I was, hoping he’d call Emma or someone to get a hold of me, but no such luck on that front.

“Miss him, don’t you?” Lindsey muttered as she plopped on the bed, peering at me.

Do I miss Taylor? I’m fiending for him. For weeks, he had been my addiction. Now, I was just an addict without my drug. Emotional withdrawals are bad, but the sexual withdrawals, were the worst.

“He wanted you to choose him, you know? I mean, you two didn’t really talk about it, but I think deep down, he wanted you to choose him. He was too shaken up about Harry and the whole let’s get married and the whole baby thing to even ask that of you. Taylor’s crazy about you, Doll. I have no f*uking clue why you’d let that hunky man run around Paris without you. There are a lot of brunette models in that city, you know. Not to mention the city of love is like an hour away. Maybe you should hop over the pond and claim your prince? Do you really want him to have sexy times with brunettes now?”

Now, that was a total bitch move. Glaring at Lindsey, I became furious. “I may be a little gutsy at times, but I’m not all-the-time-ballsy like you, Lindsey. The first real relationship I had was with a married man. The second one was a total rebound and purely for sexual gratification. I don’t have guys fall at my feet all the time like the rest of you girls. I suck at this and I totally suck at dealing with men.” I was shaking now, so I had to sit at the foot of the bed to calm myself. “I don’t deserve him, really. He’s too good for me because I’m still in love with Harry, Linds. Taylor deserves more than that. He’s a great man who deserves a woman who’s not messed up and irrevocably tainted like me.”