Page 68 of How to Break My Heart 1

“And hot pre-wedding sex?”

“I told you, we’re holding off.”

“Bummer,” I complain, then open the door of the car. “I’ll be fine. Have fun at dinner.”

Maddy drives off by the time I reach my door. I take a quick shower inside my apartment and throw on some sweats with a tank top. Considering it’s cold outside, my body is overheating like I’ve run a marathon.

The headache refuses to dissipate, and after searching my cupboards for medication, I come up empty-handed. I let out a groan, grabbing my beanie and a thick coat to wear over my tank.

My sneakers sit at the door, so I stop to put them on, catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror before pulling on my coat. “Son of a bitch,” I bark upon noticing my nipples stand out beneath my white tank. Walking back to my bedroom to find a bra is too much effort, so I button up my coat to cover the ladies.

No one has to know.

The grocery store is a block from my place, and at this hour, it’s blissfully quiet—most people are home by now, settling in for dinner. The fluorescent lights hum softly overhead, casting a cool glow over the empty aisles as I grab the essentials and toss them into the basket. The faint smell of freshly baked bread lingers in the air as I make my way through the store. When I reach the self-checkout, the silence is comforting, brokenonly by the gentle beeps as I scan each item—the sound oddly soothing.

I exit the grocery store and step outside into the cold, only to bump into another body.

“Oh my God. I’m so sorry!”

“Eva?” the voice says, forcing me to glance up. Marco’s sheepish grin catches my attention. “Well, this is a pleasant surprise.”

I hug my grocery bag close to my body. “You look well. And before you think it, I look like crap. It’s been one hell of a week.”

Marco chuckles, his handsome smile lightening my mood. “Is everything okay?”

“I guess. I’ve been busy planning this wedding, which has been harder than I thought. Today, I spent six whole hours watching Maddy try on dresses. By the end of it, I was so wasted on champagne that I’m now expecting the worst hangover.”

“Ah, hence the Tylenol and”—he reaches for my grocery bag—“burritos?”

“The cure to any hangover,” I reply with a small laugh, then sigh. “I’m sorry I haven’t called.”

“I’m sorry I haven’t called either. There’s a new strain of flu going around, so the clinic has been going nonstop.”

“So I’ve heard. Chloe wasn’t feeling well yesterday, so I sent her home. The last thing Billie and I need is to catch a virus. I’m so ready for winter to be over.”

“If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that this week.”

I hesitate, then ask, “Apart from that, you’ve been well?”

Marco drops his head, only to raise it moments later. “I would be better if we actually went on a proper date, uninterrupted.”

A soft sigh escapes me, the guilt weighing heavily on my shoulders. There’s no doubt in my mind Marco is a good man who would treat me the way I deserve to be treated.

But this is not fair to him.

Not when my body is craving someone else.

“I’m sorry, Marco. Things have just been—”

“It’s okay.” Marco offers a warm smile. “I should probably go, but just for the record, you look beautiful tonight, Eva. You always do.”

Marco leans in, kissing me on the cheek, lingering as his lips touch my cold skin.

As he pulls away, I allow myself to gaze into his eyes, only to be distracted by the roar of an engine as a familiar gray Porsche pulls up to the curb.

It takes only a few seconds for the door to slam and Aston to appear. He’s dressed in a navy suit with a tie, looking deliciously sexy.God, now I get the whole suit porn thing.

I shake my head, snapping myself out of this daze. “What are you doing here?” I ask, annoyed.