Page 3 of Reluctant to Love

“She filed…right after everything happened.”

“I’m sorry,” I respond because what else am I supposed to say?You deserved it?Good, I’m glad?

“Me too,” he says but from the way he’s looking at me, I can tell he’s not sorry his marriage ended. His green eyes swim with regret and I’m forced to look away.

There is silence between us as we wait for the elevator to arrive and when it finally does, I step on first. The silence remains as we travel up to the tenth floor and step off. It hangs there like a heavy curtain between us as I follow him down the long corridor to the very end.

He pulls a swipe card from his pocket and waves it over the electronic lock until it clicks. He shoves it open and lets me pass first.

“Eleanor,” he says, his voice low and gravelly.

I stop in the foyer and turn to face him. His jaw ticks as he searches for the words to say. “I meant it. I’m sorry.”

I don’t respond because, how could I? He owes me more than just an apology. He owes me an explanation. He made me look foolish and forced me to sacrifice so many of my dreams.

“I’m sure you are.”

For the last few years, I’ve been an impenetrable fortress and I’m not about to let Roderick shake my foundation.

Fool me once because there won’t be a second time.