Page 17 of My Destiny

“You better believe it,” I say, shaking my head and taking a seat on the chair.

To be honest, I’m disappointed she’s leaving, for a number of reasons. Who knows what she’s going to face when she gets home. It won’t be pleasant. I’m also sad that this will be the end of my time with her. I’ll probably never see her again after today, and that thought saddens me more than I care to admit

“You got everything?” I ask, picking up the brown paper bag that’s sitting on the bed. She changed into the clothes I bought her. The leggings and fitted tee only accentuate her amazing figure. How Jake would want to stray outside his marriage is beyond me. If she was my wife, I’d treasure her.

“I think so,” she says, looking around the room.

“My card.” I point to my business card sitting on the table beside the bed. “Please take it. If there’s anything you need, just call me.”

“Okay.” I see gratitude in her smile as she picks it up and slides it into her silver clutch purse.

“I mean it, Brooke. Anything.”

“I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. I really do.”

“It’s been my pleasure.”

A comfortable silence settles between us as we walk down the corridor towards the lifts. When we reach the lobby, we both stop walking and face each other.

“Well, I guess this is goodbye,” she says.

“I guess it is.”

“Again, I can’t thank you enough…”

I hold up my hand, cutting her off. “There’s no need to thank me. As I said, it was my pleasure.”

“You’re a good man, Mr. Cavanagh.”

I shrug. “I’m far from perfect.”

“I don’t believe that for a second,” she says with humour in her voice.

“Okay, I was trying to play it down, but you’re right, I’m pretty incredible.” She nudges my arm and I chuckle. “On a more serious note, what are your plans from here?”

“I guess I’ll go home, face the music, and take it from there.”

“You deserve better than him,” I say. It’s probably none of my business, but it’s the truth.

“Thank you.” Her gaze drops down to her feet. “I guess I should be going.”

“Can I at least give you a lift? My car’s parked outside.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I think it’s best if I take a cab.” I want to insist, but I don’t. I wish I could take her back to my place and care for her like I promised the doctor I would, but she’s not mine and I need to accept that.

“Bye,” she says, taking a step forward and encircling her arms around my waist. It’s a move I wasn’t expecting, but I’m certainly not complaining. I wrap my arms around her also, holding her tight for the briefest moment. Her body fits against mine perfectly. “I’ll never forget you, or the kindness you’ve shown me.” I’ll never forget her either, but I don’t voice that out loud.

Letting me go, she gives me one last smile before turning and walking away. Shoving my hands into the pockets of my jeans, I stand there and watch her go.

I exhale a long, drawn out breath when she climbs into a taxi and drives out of my life. My gaze drops down to the ground, and I can’t even put into words the depth of sadness that sweeps through my entire body.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Brooke

Butterflies churn in my stomach as the cab pulls up outside my house. Our car is parked in the driveway so I know Jake’s home. I have no idea what I’m going say to him when I get inside, but one thing is for sure, our marriage is over.

After paying the driver, I exit the car. I only make it halfway across the lawn when Jake comes barrelling out of the house.