Page 69 of Hard Rock Fling

"I think we should stop."

He tilted his head, confused. "Stop what? Stop sexting?" He cracked a grin. "You worried someone's going to read my filthy messages?

"No. I mean, I think we should stop… this."

Ian's eyes grew wide and confused.

"Our fling," I clarified.

He was stunned for a moment before shaking his head, chuckling. "You can't mean you're breaking up with me."

He honestly thought the idea was absurd. Of course. It was always the rock star who did the dumping.

"It's not a break up. You said it yourself. This is just a fling."

“But…. Why?" He was utterly astounded.

I couldn't tell him the real reason. That I was starting to fall for him. That I knew he would never feel the same. "I just think it's time."

Ian clamped his mouth shut, jaw muscles twitching. His eyes flicked away, avoiding mine.

"Let's just go back to the way things were," I told him. "You can keep on partying and flirting and bringing girls home."

And I'll continue bringing myself off, alone, to thoughts of you.

He rubbed at his wrist cuff again, fidgeting, like a nervous habit. I held my breath, wondering how he was going to react.

"You're right," he said after a long moment. "Maybe it's time we ended things."

A jab of pain went right through my heart. I'd hoped…

But no. Of course he wouldn't ask me to stay. I was just a fun distraction to him.

"So. This is it?" Ian met my gaze, green eyes shuttered.

"Yeah. Let's forget it ever happened and continue working together as colleagues. I don't want things to be awkward."

The muscles in his jaw shifted again, as if he were biting back words. His fists clenched at his sides. He must have always been the one to break it off. He probably had no idea how to react.

"We agreed, remember? We can handle this like adults."

Ian stared at me for several seconds, as if he were seeing straight through me. "Right. Like we agreed." After several more long moments, he glanced away, not meeting my eyes.

I slowly grabbed my purse from a side table and edged towards the door. "So. I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

He was still turned away. Was I the first person to have ever called it off?

"Goodnight, Ian."

"Bye." He wouldn't look at me.

I closed the door behind me softly.

The further I got from his apartment, the stronger the ache in my chest grew. I forced myself to ignore it.

I wasn't kidding myself. As much as I wished it were otherwise, I'd known what we had was temporary. I'd done the right thing by calling it off before things went too far.