Page 177 of The Temporary Fiancée
Reed
I stareat her in silence for several seconds, crushed.What?
But I don’t say that. I wait for her to explain.
“From the very beginning, we’ve been from different worlds.” Her eyes glisten with unshed tears as she gazes up at me, her face illuminated by the soft glow of the porch light. “It won’t work between us. You have different expectations from your family, and I’ll never be able to win their approval. The fact that your father was willing to pay so much to get rid of me makes that pretty clear, don’t you think?”
I open my mouth to protest, but she cuts me off.
“You would lose everything if you decided to be with me, and I don’t think our relationship would survive that. It just wasn’t meant to be. We tried, but there are too many reasons why this won’t work.”
“Olivia—”
“You were right,” she says, wiping at her eyes. “On paper, we’re not a good fit. I’m not… I’m not good wife material for you. Other people are always going to see it that way.”
I try to respond, but I can’t find the words. She stretches up to kiss me again. Her lips taste like salt.
“I love you,” she whispers. “I just wish that was enough.”
She slips her hand into her pocket, fumbling with something small that she nestles into my palm—the ring, with its perfect, beautiful stone. The last thing she has from me.
Without another word, she goes back inside. I hear the lock click behind her.
I stand on the porch, staring at the door, for several minutes, an empty chasm opening in my chest. I don’t even feel the cold as it bites at my skin.
I lost her.
Chapter 42
Olivia
Even several daysafter my conversation with Reed, my heart is still in shreds.
In a way, this is better. I know that Reed didn’t really say those horrible things about me. But he’s still not in my life, and I miss him more than I ever could have imagined.
I fell in love with him completely, and now, I don’t think I’ll ever love anyone the same way.
For the sake of my mother’s happiness, as well as my own, I try not to isolate myself completely. I’d rather not leave the house at all, would rather spend my time locked in my room nursing my broken heart, but the people who love me would never stand for it.
So when Riley calls me and asks me to come out with her and Sophie, I oblige, dragging myself out downtown to meet them for drinks.
When I arrive, they both welcome me with hugs, but it’s not long before Riley lays into me.
“Where have youbeen?” she says, sinking back into the corner booth. “It’s been radio silence. What’s going on with you?”
“My life has been a mess,” I reply. “Thanks for asking.”
Riley’s face falls comically. “Oh, girl. Tell us what happened.”
With a sigh, I launch into the story. They already know that Reed and I split, but they didn’t hear all the details, and as I explain everything, both of them look stunned.
When I’m done, Sophie purses her lips. “Okay. That’s a lot.”
“Tell me about it.”
“I was mad at you for losing touch,” Riley admits, “but… okay, I get it now. I know what heartbreak feels like.”
“How are you doing?” Sophie asks.
