Page 134 of Capturing Love

“Cancel it. We need to talk.”

I crossed my arms. “I’ve already apologised.”

“I’m not after an apology, I want to know why you invited him.”

My nostrils burned as I lowered my glistening eyes. “I thought I could make Melanie remember, that’s all.”

His brow furrowed. “Remember what? How much he hurt her?”

“No!” I cried, “I wanted her to remember how it felt to love someone.”

“He destroyed her, Jos. She couldn’t possibly still have feelings for him.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” I said, shaking my head.

Grayson scoffed. “I think I know her a little better than you.”

I raised my eyebrows.

“What?”

“Forget it.” I attempted to continue up the sidewalk, but he reached for my hand.

“No, wait…tell me.”

I jerked out of his grasp. “She’s lying to you, and confiding in me! She considers me a friend and has told me things. Things I shouldn’t know.”

“Like what?”

“It’s her truth to tell, not mine.”

“Josie…”

“No, I’m not going to betray her trust anymore.”

“So your friendship with her is more important than our relationship?”

“I could say the same thing to you!”

He pursed his lips. “I’m just trying to do the right thing here.”

“So am I!” I cried. “But I’m drowning in all the lies, the half-truths and the missing puzzle pieces. My heart can’t take it anymore.”

His jaw tightened. “What are you saying?”

“It shouldn’t be this hard,” I whispered as tears threatened to escape.

His heated gaze burned into mine as he stepped closer. “I’ve put everything on the line for you…for us.”

“Well, now you don’t have to.” I growled, stepping backwards while trying to hail a passing cab. “Now you can slip back into your high society life, with your trophy wife and stop slumming it with the rest of us.” I couldn’t control the words coming out of my mouth.

His face fell. “You know that’s not what I want.”

“But it’s not about what either of us want. It’s about what your parents want, what Melanie wants, what her parents want…and I don’t want them controlling my life anymore.” I exhaled in relief when the cab pulled into the curb

His shoulders slumped. “Josie…”

Without looking back, I escaped into the car, telling driver where to go before the tears started streaming down my cheeks.