My Summer in London (My Summer #1)(28)

“That’s brilliant.” He nodded, still staring at me, as if he had something to get off his chest. “Are you doing something tonight?” he questioned, catching me off guard.

“Why do you ask?” I treaded carefully, knowing very well this could get messy yet again. After last night, the last thing I needed was to engage in another heated argument with him.

“I was hoping I could take you out for dinner …”

Damn, he was willing to go there. Did we need to have this type of discussion on a daily basis? It was f*uking exhausting. f*uk. I was ready to wave the white flag and just surrender, but I couldn’t shake the thought of Ivy away. Besides, I wasn’t that woman. It was all or nothing for me, not some half-ass anything. Not even for Cruz, the man who starred nightly in my dreams … and nightmares.

“Cruz, whatever this is you’re trying to do—”

“I can’t get you out of my mind, Serena. You’re all I think about. I’m truly going mental.” He ran a hand through his thick, wavy hair before blowing out a breath, seeming tortured as his metallic eyes penetrated into my heart, into the very depths of my soul.

No … NO! He couldn’t. He just f*uking couldn’t!

“Cruz—”

“I’ve never felt this way before. I’m beyond confounded. I need to figure this out without any guilt. I’m thinking of breaking things off with Ivy. I can’t keep lying to her, least of all to myself,” he confessed, giving me a glimpse of the troubled man underneath the cool, collected, and calm persona he projected to the rest of the world.

“No!” I shrieked. “Don’t do that. I’m not going to have someone’s unhappiness on my hands.”

His confession beyond panicked me, so much so that I was ready to spout whatever lies I had to in order to sway his belief. I knew it was wrong, and I had already made up my mind where he was concerned. I couldn’t backtrack now. I had to see it through until the very end.

Hiding the pain in my heart, I sought his eyes, hoping he would see there was nothing special between us. “Besides, I don’t like you like that. I mean, it was fine before, you know. It was fun, but it meant nothing.”

Discernibly, he was offended by my rational reasoning.

“So it was just a game to you, then?” he hissed in pure disbelief.

My heart thudded so loudly it rang in my ears. I knew I was in uncharted territory, but I had already pulled the trigger, and it had shot through his skin, resulting in his wounded pride. There was no going back after this.

As calmly as I could, I murmured, “Sort of, yeah.” Although it hurt me to say such horrible lies, I felt as if it was justified, as if his momentary pain would eventually be for a good cause for everyone involved.

He observed everything that crossed my eyes, my face. “Why do I get the feeling you’re lying to me, Serena?”

I was guilty. I knew it; he knew it, but I would never admit to it. If I had to stick to my lies and appear to be the biggest liar of all, then so be it.

Standing my ground, I barely blinked as I prepared myself to keep lying through my teeth. “Think what you like, but if you don’t have anything work-related for me, it’s best I go. Good day, Mr. Elliot,” I huffed out before sending him one last look. Then I spun on my heels and exited his office with fake bravado.

My body shook as I strutted back towards my desk. However, before I could even warm my seat, my phone beeped, indicating a message from Archer Elliot.

“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, feeling as though I couldn’t catch a break from these brothers.

Unlocking my phone, I tapped on the text.

Can you be my date tomorrow night?

I was surprised he didn’t sound pissed off since I hadn’t sought him out after I left Cruz in the basement. Truth be told, I was such a wreck afterwards that I took a sleeping pill and decided to sleep the rest of the night away.

What’s happening tomorrow night?

It’s my mother’s birthday. No one informed you?

I wouldn’t have asked if I had known. Besides, I had been avoiding the people around the house, even the lovely Anne, because I felt too ashamed for keeping a secret from all of them where Cruz was concerned.

Tapping my reply, I took a steady breath before hitting send.

No, not really.

My phone beeped in less than a minute.

So is that a yes? Maybe? I’m not settling for no. I’m kind of a nice * like that.

His reply made me grin. Unlike Cruz, who seemed to have a sexy fixation with his brooding, which was so f*uking sexy and suited him…

God. I had to stop thinking about him before he decided to break off his engagement with Ivy. This was the best route to go. It wasn’t as if Archer was a second choice. He was just harmless fun.

Yes, *. It’s a yes.

My choice was made. There was no going back. After all, it was his mother’s birthday. How bad could this turn out?





Chapter Sixteen





“May I come in?” Archer asked as he softly knocked on the door. I was just about done applying the finishing touches to my dramatic, smoky make-up.

“You may,” I called back. “But I’m not one hundred percent done, so sit back and wait, yeah?”

I could hear him laugh gruffly in the background before I kicked the door to my bathroom shut, not willing to risk him peeking through before I was fully done.