Sizzle (Bad Boy Rockers) (Volume 1)(80)

In the few weeks I’d know him and been with him, Jack had become an integral part of my life and I’d been looking forward to living with him when we returned to college after the summer. To see where our relationship led – but no more.

“Thalia, you need to eat something, and don’t tell me you aren’t hungry. I heard your stomach grumbling,” Callie said walking back into the room with sandwiches and sodas.

I wiped my eyes before taking mine from her. “Thanks.”

“What about Reece?”

My friend blushed, and I mean blushed. Okay, she had my curiosity piqued, with my offhand comment. I seriously hadn’t expected that kind of reaction. I needed a distraction. “Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you blush that shade before, so spill.”

“Ugh. You’re not going to let it go are you?”

“No. I also need to think about something else for a while.”

“Okay...I’ve spent a night with him.”

My eyes widened. I knew they’d done something after her mentioning them giving her four orgasms, and Reece having a piercing, but all night. She never spent the night with anyone.

“He’s a really nice guy. Under all those tattoos, which are hot as well as his pierced, um, well you know... Last night I found out he has someone else, Dahlia.”

She looked sad. “Callie, what happened?”

“Dahlia rang him this morning. He climbed out of bed with no word to me, at all, and left...we both knew I’d be leaving after the wedding and that it was only casual, you know. But it hurt. Him leaving like that, to go to her, when he’d convinced me last night there was nothing between them.”

I honestly didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know Reece that well, but I wouldn’t have thought he would do something like that.

“Then perhaps it’s just as well we’re heading home. I need to contact Liam, if he’ll talk to me, and tell him I had nothing to do with what Lewis said. I also want to wish him well for Saturday. I can’t believe he’s getting married in two days.” I laughed. “Who’d have thought all this shit would happen this summer...I wish I’d gone to Texas with you instead of coming here. Then my heart wouldn’t be breaking,” I whispered.

“You don’t know that, and can you honestly tell me you wish you hadn’t met Jack? I saw you with him, you were so different, he was perfect for you...Please don’t get mad with me, but I think you need to go and find him, and tell him you had nothing to do with Lewis. I know all about your pride, but you love him.”

“No. I’m not going there...I’m not hungry, maybe later. I need to go for a walk.”

She stood up with me. “I’m coming.”

“Thanks.”

Callie slipped her feet back into the cowgirl boots she’d removed as soon as she’d come through the door, and then opened the door again. We walked downstairs in silence while I quickly wiped at a stray tear, I opened the front door of the inn and came face-to-face with Jack.

His hand was in mid-air about to knock on the door. He looked just as shocked to see me, as I was to see him.

He tried to pull himself together, running his hands through his hair, which he did when he was stressed. “Thalia,” he said, his voice breaking.

He started again, “Thalia, can we talk? Please.”

Staring into his eyes I knew I needed to talk to him, but nothing would change between us. He’d broken part of me with his mistrust.

“Let’s go and sit in the forest.” I turned back to Callie, who made the shooing motion with her hands, and then she turned, walking back upstairs.

Jack stepped back to allow me to precede him down the path. We walked towards the entrance to the forest in silence. Jack kept glancing over to me, but I refused to meet his eyes.

It had felt good to see him again even though it hurt like hell. When I saw him standing outside the door, my first instinct had been to throw my arms around him; I’d had to reign in the impulse. I still loved him, and it hurt so much being with him, but having to keep my distance.

Inside the forest, I walked slightly off the path so we would have some privacy. I turned to face him, the look on his face taking me aback. He was sorry, it was written all over his face.

“Thalia...I don’t know where to start.” He looked at me, lost for words.

“I know all about Rebecca...and I know Lewis’ reasoning behind it all. Callie phoned Donovan and got it out of him,” I told him, unable to keep the hurt out of my voice. “It doesn’t change the fact that you didn’t trust me. You automatically assumed what you’d been told was fact. You didn’t ask me. You accused me. I can’t get that out of my head.”

“Thalia, please. I’m really sorry. I love you,” he said trying to take hold of my hands, but I moved out of his reach. “I didn’t think after Lewis dropped his bombshell. As far as I knew, you were the only one to have seen my tattoos and piercing. I didn’t stop to think that someone else could have seen. God, baby I know I really f*cked up, but please don’t back away from me. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you; just don’t walk away from me, Thalia. I’ve looked for you for a long time. I don’t want to lose you.”

I knew what I wanted to do, but I was too hurt to take what was right in front of me. What was to say he wouldn’t hurt me again? He’d done it once before, without thinking, he’d do it again.