Chapter Twelve

Hailey woke up the next morning with a crick in her neck and a dull ache in her chest. How had last night gone so terribly awry?

She saw the softness in Jace’s eyes last night. Without a shadow of a doubt, she knew what it was with as much certainty as she knew her heart still beat in her chest.

And when the panic flitted across his face like the fog blowing in from the ocean, she knew it was over. She would never forget the hard planes of his face as he threw his clothes on and left her on the couch, abandoned, alone, and aching for him just after she had made love to him.

A car horn honked as she crossed against the light, pulling her back to the present.

She was tired of having her life dictated by the whims of men. She didn’t want to be that woman anymore.

Which was why she was headed to Sun Tech’s offices. It was time to meet with Evan. Despite the early hour, she hoped Evan was already at work. She knew his favorite time to head to the office was before anyone was there.

It felt like heading to her doom as she dragged her leaden feet onto the chrome elevator of their office building and took it to the tenth floor. The black double doors leading to the Sun Tech’s space were tall and imposing. Jace and Evan loved them.

At this very moment, she hated them.

She pushed at a door, and it swung open easily. Her heart hammered in her throat as she stepped into the office. Quietly, she closed the door behind her and looked around.

It had been nearly a month since she last stepped foot in this office, but with all that had happened over the past few weeks, it felt like a century ago.

The words “Sun Tech” stood out in silver block letters against the navy painted wall behind the black reception desk. No one was behind the desk to greet her, so she made her way past the glass-walled conference room and down the short hall.

The central area was an open-office layout, except for Evan’s and Jace’s glass-enclosed offices in the back. Past the desks, she could see the top of Evan’s blond head. The two people at their desks didn’t bother to look up as she made her way to Evan’s office.

She was just about to his door when Evan looked up, and his eyes caught hers.

“What the hell?” Evan’s blue eyes bulged as he took her in. Two angry spots of red flared on his cheeks.

Her legs tensed, but she forced herself to stay in place. She was here for Jace.

Swallowing her anxiety, she lifted her chin and continued to Evan’s office.

Evan pushed to his feet and looked ready to explode as he yanked the door open.

“Hailey, what are you doing here?” His voice held just a thread of control.

“I wanted to talk with you about a few, uh, business items.”

Evan grew quiet, that same tense, simmering quiet just before a lion pounced on its prey.

Not too long ago, that quiet would have worked. But that was before Evan cheated on her, embarrassed her at a sponsored event, and sold Sun Tech.

Today, she no longer cared. She pushed past him and into his office.

“What are you doing here?” Evan repeated, ice spiked in every word.

She pulled herself up to her full five-foot-five height. “I’m here to apologize.”

“You—” Evan jabbed a finger at her, and then pulled back. “You—” He dropped his hands to his side. “You what?”

She stood behind a chair and gripped the back of it. “I’m done with this weird back and forth. I want to talk it out, get my stuff, and move on.”

Evan narrowed his eyes. “Let me get this straight—you ruined a wedding, embarrassed me in front of colleagues, and planned my launch without me, and now you want to apologize and move on with life? It doesn’t work that way.”

Her grip on the chair was so tight, her fingers began to go numb. “I’m not playing games, Evan. The launch is in two days, and I want us to at least be on working terms.”

Evan cleared his throat. “If you aren’t planning to leave Sun Tech, then I don’t want to hear it.”

She gritted her teeth and looked around the room. Not much in Evan’s office had changed. His degrees hung on the walls in ornate frames. Photos of Evan shaking hands with celebrities and politicians lined the bookshelves. His desk was neat and organized. Even the piles of papers were neatly stacked.

The only thing different was the framed photo of them that used to sit on his desk. That was no longer there.

“Why are you selling Sun Tech?”

Evan jerked his head back. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“I know that this company means as much to you as it does to Jace. I know you have both put your backs, and minds, and time and hearts into it. So why are you cutting out now?”

His hands were on his hips as he scowled at her. “What do you care? You and Jace are off planning your launch and cutting me out. I tried talking to you, but you just ignored me. Jace put himself right in the middle, acting as some type of human buffer. It’s bullshit. This company is mine as well, and I’ve had zero say.”

Evan glared at her, his body shaking with effort. He was furious and obviously trying to take it out on her.

The man was hurt.

The realization had come to her last night as she laid awake, listening for Jace to come home. And that’s when she knew she couldn’t move on until she closed this chapter.

“Look, Evan, I’m not here to make you mad or angry. I’m here to say I’m sorry. I’m sorry I ran without a note. I’m sorry our relationship went as far as it did, and I’m sorry I hurt you in the process of protecting myself. I didn’t mean to.”

She tried to move closer to him, but he backed away.

“I know you’re mad—”

“Mad?” Evan’s expression was incredulous. “Mad doesn’t even begin to describe my level of fury. You made me look like a fool in front of my family.”

“I know, and I’m sorry.”

“No,” Evan snapped. “If you had any idea how important appearances were to them, you never would have run. I haven’t heard that end of it. My family has cut me off financially until they think I have my life back together. I can’t afford to invest in more buildings.”

“I do know appearances are very important to them,” she said, trying to keep her voice calm.

Evan gripped his fists and pounded them against his desk. “Do you? Do you really know how important appearances are to my family? Do you remember Aggie?”

“Your dog?” What did his dog have to do with any of this?

“Yes, my dog. My childhood friend. Do you know what happened to her?” He didn’t wait for her answer. “She escaped into the house during a cocktail party my dad had planned. The poor old girl got so nervous and overwhelmed by all the people, she peed on the floor.” Evan’s mouth puckered. “She disappeared the next day.”

“Oh.” She breathed the word. Her heart twisted. “I didn’t know.”

“My dad didn’t go to my graduation because I didn’t finish with honors. He considered it a failure after all the money he spent on the school.”

This was a piece of himself Evan had never revealed. She knew his family loved to look and act a certain way. She’d never felt comfortable around them. Now she knew why.

“You’ve never told me any of this before.”

“Well, now you’ve made me the laughingstock of my family and friends. Damn it, Hailey. Couldn’t we have walked down the aisle and annulled the marriage the next day? At least it would have been quiet.”

She hadn’t realized how tensely she was holding herself until her neck began to ache. She rolled her shoulders, trying to relieve the muscles in her back. She wanted to help Evan, really she did.

“I didn’t trust you enough to hold my future like that. I saw you making out with our wedding coordinator, and I panicked. If I had married you, how long would you have strung me along? A month? A year? Our deaths?”

Evan’s shoulders softened and he leaned against the door. He closed his eyes, as though he wished he were anywhere but in this room with her. Honestly, she didn’t blame him.

“Would that have been so bad? I really did love you.”

“You were cheating on me the whole time.”

“That was a mistake. A huge mistake.” Evan’s jaw tightened. “I just felt so trapped.”

“And you trapped me as well. I’m sure you loved me at one point, just like I loved you, but I think you stopped seeing me for who I truly was.”

“That’s not true.” Evan pushed away from the door and moved to the window. He was careful not to touch her as he passed. “The other women meant nothing to me.”

“Honestly, I don’t care about the other women. I just care about living my life in a way that makes me happy. You were so focused on appearances, and I was so focused on making you happy, that we both lost sight of ourselves and our relationship.”

He stared out the window, taking in the view of the city. “I’m sorry.”

Evan looked like the wind had been taken out of his sails, leaving him completely deflated and empty.

“Honestly,” he continued, “I was so angry at you, I didn’t really care what I was doing as long as you were hurting as much as me. And when you ran off with Jace, I nearly lost it. I knew you had a crush on him for years.”

“I wasn’t running around with Jace. I was working from his home.” She didn’t dare add any more. It hurt too much to think much less talk about.

Evan didn’t say a word.

The seconds ticked by in silence. Each one felt like an eternity.

She wanted everything fixed now.

“Evan, think twice before selling Sun Tech. It’s only going to keep growing, and you will have missed out.”

Evan shook his head. “I don’t care. I’m selling the company and wiping my hands clean.”

She let out a sigh. “If it helps, this will be my last launch. I’ll never work for Sun Tech again. If I’m the problem, I’ll be out of your hair in two days, and you will never hear from me again.”

Evan nodded. The muscles in his face were strained and dark circles ringed the bottom of both eyes.

“Does Jace know you’re here?”

The question was out of the blue.

She tilted her head to the side. “No.”

“It looks like he is about to find out.”

She spun on her heels and stopped cold in her tracks. Her heart lurched as she spotted Jace storming over to Evan’s office. His arms were crossed over his broad chest, and his mouth, that delicious mouth she had kissed last night, was set in a grim line.

There was no doubt in her mind. Jace was pissed.

Jace knew he had no reason to be upset. Hailey’s packed bag could have meant anything. Still, he couldn’t escape the numbing fear when he saw the bag. She was leaving him, just like his mother had left him. Only this time it was his fault.

Hailey’s cheeks were flaming red, and Evan stood behind her, hands on his hips.

He shoved the glass door open with more force than necessary. It swung on it hinges and crashed against the wall with a reverberating bang.

Evan spoke before he could. “What are you doing here, man? I thought you were working from home.”

“What am I doing here?” The question roared out of him. “What are you two doing here?” He glowered first at the woman who was tearing his emotions to bits and then at his soon-to-be-ex business partner.

“We were talking business,” Evan said calmly, as if they were having a casual conversation over the weather.

“Behind my back?” He glared at Evan then Hailey. “Is he trying to talk you out of the contract? Don’t forget you don’t get paid until after the launch, and I know you need it for your wedding debt.”

Hailey jerked back like she’d been slapped.

“What the hell has gotten into you?” Evan demanded.

“What’s gotten into me? You two are off discussing god-knows-what behind my back. You’re looking to sell the company, and she’s looking to leave before the launch. How am I supposed to act?” He was probably overreacting, but he couldn’t stop the words pouring out of him.

What if Evan paid her to leave? It probably wouldn’t take much. All Evan had to do was pay off the mountain of wedding debt.

Hailey’s wide brown eyes narrowed, and she reached for her purse. “I think you’re assuming too much.” Hailey slung the strap over her shoulder. “Evan, I’m glad we could catch up, and clear some of our past, but I should go.”

Hailey walked out, head held high. Her eyes slid over him as though he wasn’t even there.

Panic held him in place as he watched her walk away.

She was leaving. That propelled him into action.

“Hailey.” He shoved the glass door open.

“Don’t bother,” she snapped.

He barely heard Evan mutter “low blow” as he ran after her.

He got to the lobby in time for the elevator doors to close shut, carrying Hailey inside. Jace laid on the elevator down button until the next car showed up. The ride to the ground floor felt endless as the elevator stopped at almost every floor.

When the chrome doors finally slid open at the lobby level, he caught a glimpse of Hailey’s back as she headed out of the building.

“Hailey,” he called.

She didn’t pause.

His feet moved before his brain could react, and the next thing he knew, he was sprinting out of the lobby and after her. It felt like a vice was wrapped around his lungs as he dodged around pedestrians. It was impossible to spot her in the sea of black coats and black pants.

Then a flash of red hair caught his eye.

“Hailey,” he called.

When she didn’t turn around, he sprinted until he was within reach.

“Hailey!” He grabbed her elbow and pulled her to a stop.

“What?” She yanked her arm out of his grasp. “What, Jace? Have you come to insult me some more? Bring up my wedding debt again and rub it in my face?”

“No.” He didn’t know what exactly he wanted to say. He was just so relieved to see her. Finding her gone this morning had scared him.

“You were gone this morning.” His words sounded like an accusation, and judging by the rigid set of Hailey’s shoulders, she had not missed that inflection.

“Jace, you left me cold and naked on the couch last night. What do you care if I left or not?”

He did care. He cared far more than he had realized.

“I thought you had—” He stopped abruptly.

She arched both eyebrows. “You thought I had what?”

Left. The word was on the tip of his tongue. Bursting to get out.

“Never mind. It’s nothing.” A new form of panic began to grip at his chest.

“Nothing?” Hailey snapped. “You leave me last night after sex, you ridicule me in front of my ex, and then you chase me down the street demanding that I stop and listen, and all you have to say is ‘nothing’? I don’t have time for this.” She whirled on her heel, her long, dark coat flapping behind her.

“Gone.” The word felt as harsh as sandpaper. “I thought you were gone.”

Hailey halted.

“I saw your suitcases and thought you left, just like my mom had. I woke up one cold fall day and found her missing. That was it. She was gone.” The hole in his life remained empty and cold and silent. That was his first day of his life without her.

Slowly, she faced him.

He didn’t want sympathy, but her eyes were wide and much too bright, and all he could read on her face was the apology that he didn’t want to hear.

“There’s a bench over there. Do you want to sit down and talk about this?” she asked. The anger hadn’t left her voice, but at least he had her attention.

He followed her to the small bench and forced himself to sit.

She let out a long sigh and dropped her purse next to her. “I was thinking about leaving. Last night made me feel like every other woman you picked up and left behind the second it was over.”

And he left because she wasn’t like any other woman. He didn’t believe in love or in marriage. The reason he refused to see a woman more than a handful of times was to avoid this situation entirely.

“So that was it? You were going to leave without telling me? That’s what you were telling Evan?”

“No, I was at Sun Tech to apologize to Evan and convince him to not sell the company.”

Her hands clenched in her lap. A couple inches separated their legs. A gap that was so small suddenly felt impossible to bridge.

“I know how important Sun Tech is to you, and I didn’t want to be the catalyst for it falling apart. I needed to apologize. Both for Sun Tech and for me,” she added.

But not for him, he noted. “You didn’t need to do that.”

Her dark eyes, swirling with emotion, held his. “I did.”

He knew that emotion blooming in her eyes and with how she looked at him. It made her beautiful and irresistible. And he knew without a doubt he needed to end it before they got too deep. His heart was on the line already.

Hailey put her hand on his arm. Her touch was comforting, but he didn’t want it. He didn’t want to get used to her being there for him. It would make it that much harder to walk away.

“What did Evan say?” he asked, more to distract himself than her.

“He didn’t say much. But I told him after this launch, I’d never work with Sun Tech again.”

One more reminder she was leaving.

“I could try to buy his share.” He couldn’t afford it, but he could try.

“And you would, what? Rule over your little kingdom by yourself?” Hailey asked. “Do you really want that? You’re on your own enough as it is.”

“I’d hire help.”

“And be the boss? You’d be lonely at your job and at home. I hate to see you like this.”

What did it matter? She was leaving, his launch was at risk, and Evan was selling. Sun Tech was changing, and at the moment it felt like he was losing everything.

“I’ll be fine.”

She let out a sigh and suddenly seemed resolute. Her next words made his soul sing and his brain panic.

“Jace, I love you.” The emotion in her face matched her words. “I did it because I love you. And I don’t want you to be alone and cut off from everyone.”

She loved him. She told him so. And even if she hadn’t, he could read the words plain as day in her expressive eyes.

He couldn’t do this. Why hadn’t he let her walk away? Why did he have to drag it out?

She ran her hand down his arm and grabbed his hand. “Say something.”

Numb, he shifted his gaze to over the top of her head. “You can’t possibly mean that.”

Her blunt nails dug into his palm. “I mean it. I know what I feel, and I don’t need you telling me what I do or do not feel.”

She released her grip and shoved her shaking hands into the pockets of her black slacks.

He wanted to reach out and calm her, but what could he say when he knew he should run for the hills? Loving Hailey would rip him open, and then he’d truly be left with nothing.

“I don’t think we should do this anymore,” he said stiffly, staring at the tree behind her instead of at her beloved face.

“Jace,” her voice was soft with pleading. “This isn’t a fatal diagnosis. Or a disaster. It’s love. It’s a gift.”

“This isn’t a disaster yet.” He couldn’t hide the accusation in his voice. “But where is this supposed to go? Are we supposed to fall in love and get…married?” He could almost picture Hailey in a white dress, waiting for him at the end of the aisle. Assuming she wouldn’t run. “Sure, it would be sunshine and happiness for a brief period. But then what? What happens when you wake up one morning and realize you don’t want to do this anymore? What happens when you’re bored with us and decide our time has come? Where does that leave me?”

“We talk. We work it out. We can be two responsible adults in a relationship. You don’t run the second that trouble shows up.”

“You’ve already run once.”

The second the words were out, he wished he could take them back.

Hailey’s entire body went rigid. Her jaw jutted forward, and her chest swelled. He had crossed a line.

“How dare you throw that in my face.” The ice in her voice was heavy and dangerous. “That was a completely different situation, and you know it. You’re dying a thousand deaths over a scenario that hasn’t even happened.”

“Really? Because you were ready to run today.” He crossed his arms and stared stubbornly back at her.

“I left my bag at your place for a reason. I wanted to tell you I was leaving.”

“Great. And what am I supposed to do with that information? Tell you I’ll pay for the hotel room?”

“No, it’s to show you I care too much to up and disappear on you. I wanted to show I wasn’t running.”

“That’s a lot of effort for a relationship we both know won’t work out.”

Just like that, her entire face turned ashy gray. The fight left her body. “You really are an asshole.”

He flinched at her very accurate assessment. However, he knew one thing for certain—this was for the best. She’d see. Give it another few months, and she would realize this was the kindest thing he could do.

Hailey stood from the park bench and dusted off her pants with calm, controlled movements, but when her gaze landed back on him, it was hot and laser-focused.

“You know what? You need to take a good, long look at your life. If you ever wonder why you’re lonely, it’s because anytime someone steps up, you push them away. At least I had the courage to stand up and go for what I wanted.”

“Hailey.”

“Don’t bother.” Then she grabbed her black purse and walked away. Her red hair swished behind her, gently waving goodbye.

And it ripped him in half.

More than anything, he wanted to follow her. Every instinct in his body told him to stop her and apologize.

But he sat, super glued to the park bench, as he watched her disappear in the sea of city pedestrians.

It was for the best.

Letting out the breath he was holding, he stood from the bench and headed toward a bar he hadn’t been to since Hailey started staying at his place.

A dim bar and a strong cocktail were exactly the respite he needed. He needed to review his contract with Evan and get his business partner back on track.

He slid into a sleek black stool and ordered a double shot of whiskey, neat. His hand shook as he tipped the contents down his throat, savoring the burn of the alcohol.

He wanted to forget. To forget the hurt on Hailey’s face before she walked away. To forget the sadness in his mother’s eyes the last time she kissed him good night. To forget this emotional mess he’d made of his life.

Two hours and a couple of drinks later, he returned to his condo. In less than a week, tenants and owners would be moving in. The building would buzz with activity of residents, and this period with Hailey would be a long, distant memory.

The lights flicked on as he stepped inside the foyer.

He squinted his eyes against the brightness of the cool white walls and moved into the living room. The black and white room that he used to love now felt uninviting.

As if in a trance, he walked around the room, and then into the kitchen.

The flowery mugs were no longer in the drying rack, and the stems and petals of the flowers she had bought the other day stuck out from the trash bin.

All the color she had added to his life, gone. In its place was a cold emptiness he had never realized was there before. His life was back to black and white.

It was exactly what he wanted. Hopefully, after a few days, he’d begin to believe it.

The door to Hailey’s room was closed, as though she was working or changing.

He reached to open it, then hesitated. She could still be here. She could be asleep, or angry, or wanted time alone.

So he knocked, twice. The echo in the hall and in the room was hollow. Empty.

Slowly, he opened the door, pushing it into the room with a quiet dread.

He closed his eyes and bit his lip.

All those long evenings in her arms, those beautiful mornings next to her, the sound of her laughter, the way she glowed when she came up with a brilliant idea, the softness in her eyes when she looked at him…

Gone.

It was all gone.

The closet was empty, and the futon was folded up. Except for the faint scent of citrus, there was no sign Hailey was ever there.

She did exactly what she said she would do, and exactly what he claimed he’d wanted. She’d left.

What he hadn’t expected was the excruciating emptiness that haunted him.

Like Hailey had taken a vital piece of him with her when she’d walked out.