Page 62 of Savage Temptation

Cindy continues with, “Didn’t he tell you he loved you?”

“Yes, and while I think he does, I know that love doesn’t always work out. I just never expected him to be a coward.”

“He’s probably still dealing with the fallout,” Ashley suggests.

I snicker. “You’re giving him too much grace. He literally ghosted me for two weeks before that.”

“Emotions are hard!” Cindy frowns. “You’re only looking at this from your side. He’s dealing with it too.”

I glare at my friend. “Thank you for firmly planting yourself in Team Savage.”

“That’s not fair,” she whines.

And she’s right. She’s trying to be helpful.

A knock sounds on the door, and I go to see who it is. Through the peephole, I spy Atticus.

Fuck…

It’s hard to breathe. Hard to even think. I wish I could be as cool and collected as Ashley, but that’s never been my strength.

Being caught off guard is also not my strength. I’m in a badly stained tee shirt and pajama pants, with my hair a frazzled mess, pinned to the top of my head.

But why should I care how I look?

I go to brush my hair, and when the knock comes again, I shout, “Just a sec!”

“Who is it?” Cindy asks.

“It’s Atticus.”

Ashley and Cindy exchange looks, then rise and come over to plant kisses on my cheeks.

“You’re going to do great,” Ashley says. “Don’t let him off the hook too easily.”

“Call and tell us everything!” Cindy insists.

I’m still a mess, but nothing short of taking a shower is going to help, so I let Atticus in as my friends leave.

He looks dapper as hell in a suit, his hair carefully styled. Gone are the salacious smirks, playful nibbles, and leering gazes. He’s all business.

“You look amazing,” he says.

“Are you kidding?”

“The chocolate stains are…very becoming.”

“What the fuck do you want?”

“First, to apologize. Then, to explain.”

“You know what? I don’t care to be apologized to. Nothing you say will make it better.”

“The footage was stolen—”

“I’m not referring to the footage. I know you’d never purposefully release that.”

He nods slowly.