Page 51 of Triton

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Erik

I stood therein the sand as Aria stomped off, sand from her boots flying in my face. What the fuck had just happened?

Had she literally just dumped me because I wouldn’t let her keep trying Dirty Name? What the hell was wrong with her? Why was that goddamn obstacle so important to her? More important to her than Iwas?

And she had just told me she was a liar. What had she been talking about? How had she lied tome?

Dammit. Why had I let my guard down around her? I had even considered a future with her. This was my fucking fault. Not hers. She had told me from day one she didn’t want anything serious because she wasn’t going to be in town, but my dumb ass pursued her anyway. As a SEAL, I tried to push away from my emotions, focus on the facts. But the fact was my heart had just detonated into a thousand pieces.

I grabbed her stupid bike and mine and walking both bikes back to my garage.

What the fuck was I going to do with this bike? I could’ve given it to Holly, but she already had a bike. I could donate it somewhere or give it to one of my buddy’s wives.

But maybe, one day, Aria would return. Apologize for flipping out onme.

Until I heard from her again, I would keep the bike, and try not to remember how happy she looked ridingit.