Page 122 of The Catch

"The way he flirted with you in the club— and the way you let him. Like you were one of his— Shit. He flirted with you every second of that bloody TV show," he adds. "Now you're not happy to have your catering business anymore. Did he suggest the TV show? Is that why you're doing that? Maybe when you said you were happy with your small business that was another lie you told yourself. Maybe it's only what you thought I wanted to hear. Now you're doing what you think he wants."

"That's not…" I manage.

But it is. He's talking about how I lost myself in relationships.

He keeps on going, my feelings invisible to him. "I bet he loves oranges, too. You're making his favorite food, I just know it."

It's such a petty, ridiculous accusation, but I flinch. Because it's true.

I don't know what to do with that, but I know I will not let him see how he's affected me.

"Feeling better now?" I find balance where there's none, and I steal the chocolate from his hand without dropping anything. "Did you finally say everything you wanted to say?"

"No. I'm sorry. I'm angry and venting, but I really don't mind what you've done with him—"

"You're making a spectacle, Aidan."

He stops.

"You ruined what we had. If you had told me we had a problem, we could have done something about it. Back then, I would have. Not now. You're four years too late to be who I needed."

"You're not going to give me another chance?"

"No. We've been over since the moment I caught you. You have to hear it, this time. Don't show up again."

"Do you love him?"

It's my turn to halt.

I think I might. If not, I'm just a few steps away from falling for him.

I haven't felt like this in… ever.

I feel more than I thought possible.

But I'm not telling Aidan that.

I try to leave, but he follows.

"Ames. Come on. You know you're just going to make the same mistakes with Saint. You're walking right into a new thing without figuring out who you need to be."

I face him again. "How dare you point the finger at me like that?Who I need to be?What about whoyouneeded to be? What about what you should have done differently?"

"We'll talk it out. Please, love."

"Do not call me love. We will not figure it out. I made mistakes, but that's as true as how wrong you were for me. I just never realized until you showed me."

"I fucked up," he admits. "I'm sorry."

"You did. I hope you are sorry. Maybe you'll learn a thing or two from how things happened between us. I am sure as hell trying to learn my part."

"Fuck." He shakes his head. "This can't be the end."

"It is. We've been done for a long time, but what you did shot a hundred extra bullets into what was left of our relationship. You showing up here like this? It's just the last one."

He closes his eyes, pain marring his brow.

"Bye, Aidan."