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“Yep.”
“So, what’s the problem?”
“There ain’t one.”
She stared at me like I’d lost my mind. “You’re telling me you’re just never gonna fuck anyone again?”
I shrugged. “Looks that way.”
“For her?”
“Yep.”
“She isn’t even taking you back.”
That one fucking hurt. “I know.”
Sylvie stared at me. “So, what? You’re gonna sit around waiting forever for a woman who doesn’t want you?”
“None of your fucking business,” I growled.
Sylvie rolled her eyes, not backing down. “She left.”
“Because I fucked up.”
“And if she never comes back?”
I looked down at my beer. It was the question I’d been trying very hard not to ask myself, because Maria might not. She could love me and still decide loving me wasn’t worth the risk. I’d have to live with that.
I looked back at Sylvie. “Then I live with what I fucked up. But I ain’t crawling into somebody else’s bed because I’m lonely.”
“Jesus, Riot.”
“What?”
“You really love her.”
I almost laughed. “Yeah.” Fucking understatement.
Sylvie studied me for another moment, then she nodded, a small smile touched her mouth. “Hope she forgives you.”
That caught me off guard. “Thanks.”
Sylvie walked away.
I turned back toward the room and froze. Maria stood a couple of places away at the bar. She was looking straight at me, her eyes shining.
Fuck.
How long had she been there? My stomach dropped. “Ria—”
She turned and pushed through the back door.
Fuck.
I almost followed, then stopped myself. She wanted space. I’d promised—
The door opened again, and Maria stuck her head through. “You coming?”
