Page 63 of Savage Temptation

“I waited for weeks, hoping you’d text, and when you did, you were always busy.”

“And I hate that it happened that way.”

“But the thing is, it didn’t have to. You chose to let it happen like that. For me to sit around, pining for you. You had to have known my feelings.”

“Your feelings?”

“I’ve wanted you since I was…fuck, forever.”

His head cocks to the side in contemplation. He looks stunned. As though it would never occur to him that I’d wanted him for so long.

My hand flies to my mouth. He never realized I had feelings for him…

“Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

“Like I’m about to tell the world’s most eligible bachelor that I love him,” I mock.

“Why wouldn’t you?”

“Would you just for one fucking second listen to yourself? You said you loved me. Then, when I ask you to clarify that statement, you tell me you will only do so in person, and proceed to avoid me. Just admit that you fucked up and said something stupid in the heat of the moment.”

“I’m sorry, Tessa,” he says, his eyes desperate with…I don’t know what it is. There’s a look to him. It makes me sad.

But why should he have this effect on me after what he’s done?

“You know what—I’m over it!”

“Good,” he says, which is literally the worst thing he could have said because it only tells me he wants me to move on.

I never will.

“How are you and Lance?” I ask.

“He’s moving out.”

“Oh…gosh. I’m so sorry. You’ve been friends for so long. I can’t believe—”

“No, it’s fine. I mean, he wanted to kill me and probably still does, but this would have happened eventually.”

“Somehow, I doubt that.”

“We had a long talk. The anger is still there, but I’ve been his best friend for so long that he still opens up to me. I think he’s finally reached a point where he’s ready to settle down, but that’s hard when he doesn’t have his own place.”

I’m stunned. “Settle down? Not Lance.”

“I was just as surprised as you are.”

“Well, I hope you guys make it back to a good place.”

“I’m fairly confident we’ll get there, but these things take time.” He pauses, an anxious look spreads across his face. “About the video—”

“Don’t! I don’t think I can handle that.”

“I want to compensate you.”

“Your money can’t fix what I’ve been through.”

“I know, but it will allow you to heal in leisure.”