Unveiled (Torn #6)(21)

“I’m afraid that’s not possible.”

“That’s a lie. You know it is! How often have I requested this of you, and you always managed to do it without hesitation?” I could feel my heart palpitate, leaving me breathless. “This is the first time you’ve said no to me … after we got back together.”

He let out an insufferable sound, as if he wasn’t sure what to say next. “I’ll be in New York a week after New Year’s. If you can fly out to see me at that time, then we’ll talk. I need to clear my head and so do you. Maybe it’s time we reevaluate what we both need and want from each other. And, since I can’t offer you what you want, maybe you really need to think long and hard, consider your options and see if enduring this relationship is worth it anymore.”

“I don’t have anything to reevaluate. I want to be with you,” I frantically said before I reached out to his chest, bunching my fists as I tugged on his shirt. “Stop saying these things, Dimi. You’re hurting me too much.” Why wasn’t he trying to listen to me or at least giving me the opportunity to explain without fearing that he would immediately shut me down? I knew he was angry; I knew him too well to buy this indifferent side of him. “If you’re making this an excuse to break-up with me, please say so. Just don’t play me for a fool, using whatever excuses and justifications you can find because you don’t want to be with me. I’m not sure where you are after last night, but if this is your reaction after my accidental marriage proposal, then tell me so I won’t have to expect anything from you.” I wasn’t sure where I was going with this, but I knew I wanted him to be honest with me.

“I’m sorry. I truly am, but I have to go.”

He seemed adamant to leave, so I slowly released my hands from his once pristine black dress shirt. I merely shook my head before retreating my steps, forlorn and truly defeated.

“Lindsey!” he yelled when I was a few feet away from him, but I didn’t want to look back. What was the point? He had made his position crystal clear.

Wiping my tears away, I reached into my purse to retrieve my keys and pressed the unlock button.

“Lindsey!” Although I could hear him again, I wasn’t paying heed. Instead, I merely shook my head, blatantly ignoring him before I slid inside the safe confines of my car.

It wasn’t over, yet it felt like it was nearing. Neither of us was ready to say it—to fully end it between us—but I felt it. He didn’t have to confirm anything. I knew he intended for New York to be our last meeting. That had been him standing his ground.

Funny how I had thought it would be Claudine to break us apart when it was him and his opinion of me. He didn’t believe in me—that I’d changed, that I wasn’t the irrational woman who wrecked his heart.

It was too late. My love had come too late to save us both.





Chapter 11


Lindsey


A distinct sound of a glass being tapped, making that thunk thunk noise? snapped me out of my hazy funk. Sniffing as I cocked my head to the side, I wasn’t surprised to find him still trying to get my attention.

I thought he was leaving for the airport; what was he doing stalling? Was he trying to make me even more miserable than I already was?

Sighing, I barely cracked the window down enough to hear him. “Did you forget to tell me something?” I tried to sound as normal as possible yet failed immensely because my tear ducts weren’t cooperating.

I was a wreck, and I had no control over my emotions anymore. I knew I would regret it the next day, but the hard devil-may-care woman was no longer me. Dimitris had truly broken me, and there was no going back from that.

“You’re distraught, and I don’t want you driving in this state. Let me drive you home. As for your car, if you hand me your keys, I’ll have someone deliver them to your house tonight.”

He was the one who had made me distraught and then he cares? Well tough.

“I’m fine,” I argued, not meeting his eyes while gripping the wheel with both hands. “I can drive fine, so don’t worry about me. You can go now. I don’t want to delay you any longer.”

He growled, clearly irritated. “Lindsey, give me the bloody keys!” He tried to yank the door open, but it was securely locked, which only got him more aggravated.

I shrugged, past caring that he was angry. It was rather sad and pitiful that this was the only way I got a reaction from him.

After the previous night’s rejection, he had been pushing me away, and then, when he saw me despondent, he suddenly cared? If something were to happen to me, say I got into an accident, he didn’t want that on his conscience, did he? Well, I didn’t want to detain him any longer. He could very well be on his way to Greece and be with the people who loved and adored him. I was sure Claudine was included in that close-knit circle.

“I have to go. I’ll see you in New York.” Not bothering to look at him, I started the engine, getting him even more riled up.

“I swear to the bloody gods, Lindsey, if you drive this bloody thing—”

“What?” I shrilled at him. “It’s not as if you want me, do you? Maybe we can both end this miserable relationship the way my mother killed hers with my father. You f*uking push me whenever it suits you. Maybe I’m just f*uking sick of being called a f*uking whore by your f*uking people!” The last bit came out as a surprise. I kept telling myself I hadn’t care, but clearly I did. It was just one too many things I kept telling myself that didn’t matter. My self-delusion seemed endless.