Page 131 of The Toy Maker

I could feel the white-hot rage running through my veins. “Were you trying to make me jealous?” I accused.

Jason fumbled for words. “I?—”

“Don’t.” I stepped closer, close enough for him to see the fire in my eyes, to hear every word with crystal clarity. “You knew how I felt the entire time, and instead of telling me the truth, you hung me out to dry. You roped me into your world and then kicked me out.” My voice trembled with the fury clawing its way out of my chest. “That’s not what love is.”

Jason watched through the glass, powerless, finally.

“Have a nice life,” I sneered in disgust. I gathered my remaining things and walked to the front door.

“Tara,” he yelled after me. “Wait!”

I didn’t.

I flung the door open and rushed down the stairs. The last thing I wanted was to give Jason enough time to meet me in front of the building.

As soon as I stepped outside, it felt like someone had thrown a bucket of freezing water at me. The wind picked up, and I regretted not packing all of my winter clothes first.

Tristan was already waiting for me by the curb when I saw him. He was leaning against his car, hands stuffed into thepockets of his hoodie, his familiar lopsided grin flashing as soon as he saw me.

He pulled me into a hug, and relief washed over me.

“We need to go,” I urged, my voice tight as I instinctively checked over my shoulder.

His grin faltered, concern flickering in his eyes. “Why?”

“I’ll explain on the way.” I shoved my purse into his hands and moved toward the trunk. “Just start the car.”

He frowned but didn’t ask any more questions. He climbed into the driver’s seat while I wrestled my suitcase into the trunk. My hands shook as I slammed it shut, but I didn’t stop to process the feeling twisting inside my chest.

I hurried to the passenger seat, my breath uneven.

Tristan turned the heat up and cast a sideways glance at me, his gaze sweeping over my red nose and puffy eyes. “Are you okay?” His voice was softer, hesitant.

I gave a half-hearted nod. “Let’s just go.”

The tires crunched over wet pavement as we pulled onto the road, headlights slicing through the sheets of rain. I let my head rest against the seat, exhaling slowly, trying to relax.

But I looked back and saw Jason.

He came skidding around the corner, his chest rising and falling rapidly, his pants splattered with mud and leaves like he’d torn through hell to get to me, but the only thing I could focus on were the two green eyes staring at me as we drove away.

But I had to leave. I had to figure out who I was outside Pink Cherrie, without Jason. I had spent so much time trying to fit in that I had forgotten what it was like to be on my own.

Beside me, Tristan kept his hands on the wheel, but I could feel his attention flicking toward me. He wasn’t the prying type, but he wasn’t stupid either. “So are you going to tell me what’s going on?” he asked.

I gave him a sidelong look as rain pelted the car. “The whole story?”

“Don’t spare the details.” He grinned.

“A few months ago, I was fired…” My mind raced with the images of the past few months. “So I went looking for a new job.”