Page 54 of How to Break My Heart 1

Me

Raincheck? I’m sorry, Marco. It’s been a long day and I have an early start tomorrow. Are you free later in the week?

I don’t want him to think I’m not interested.

“Eva, are you still there?” Maddy questions.

“Yes,” I answer quickly. “The veil. Just wear it if you want, and if you don’t, so be it.”

“That’s all you have to say?” Maddy complains before continuing, “What’s gotten into you? Is it the doctor? Does he have a small ding-dong?”

I scrunch my nose. “Please don’t call it that. It’s disturbing. And for the record, I haven’t slept with him.”

“Oh, right. So what’s the problem?”

“One of many…” I trail off, careful not to mention Aston. “Veil aside, the string duo is booked. I’ve got some things to check off tomorrow, and then I’m free for dress fitting on Friday.”

Maddy squeals. “Fabulous. What would I do without you?”

“Get married at city hall?”

“Funny! I won’t lie to you, I don’t blame people for doing exactly that.”

We end the call with a promise to catch up tomorrow. As for me, I yearn for complete silence to decide my next move.

I stare at Marco’s text again.

He is a great guy with so much potential. I mean, how many men like Marco will I cross paths with in my lifetime? The dating pool is slim pickings. Well, at least, in Cinnamon Springs it is.

Aston got to me.

My fingers quickly type another message to Marco, but then I erase it. None of my words are coming out the way I intend them to. Frustrated, I throw my phone onto the other side of the sofa and head to the kitchen to grab something to eat. As I pull open the cupboard door on the hunt for something to satisfy my craving, I hear the ping across the room.

“Don’t read it,” I say out loud to no one but myself. “Food. You need food because you’re hangry and not making any good decisions right now.”

I find some chocolate and devour it to cure the cravings for sex, which have consumed me since the moment I saw Aston lick his fingers. With a mouth full of fancy chocolate my brother sent me from France, I drag my feet back to the sofa and grab my phone.

Aston

Are you behaving, Miss Woods?

A smile graces my lips, much to my annoyance. Obviously, the chocolate has cured my mood.

Me

Not really. I just shoved expensive French chocolate in my mouth. I don’t know how long it’s been sitting in my cupboard.

Aston

You do know you own a donut store. If you were craving something sweet, you could probably find it in your store kitchen. Maybe something vanilla?

I sink into my cushions, relaxing for the first time today.

Me

Are you only texting me to see where I am or who I’m with? Stalker, much? Remember, I’m single, and the doctor checks all the boxes.

Minutes pass with no response. I put my phone down to turn on the television. With a bored flick of the channels, I recheck my phone to see if he has read the message, but no response.