Page 156

Trixie knows it too.

She looks at me, and some of the anger leaves her face.

“I am sorry.”

“You didn't promise me anything.”

“No.” Her eyes flick toward Bitter. “But he damn sure did.”

The room goes silent.

That is the problem.

He did.

He knew sex meant more to me than casual before he slept with me. He agreed to exclusivity. He held me afterward. He got back into bed when I called what he was doing relationship behavior.

I fell asleep with my hand over his.

Then less than a day later, he chose the club over my choices and another woman over his word.

That is not confusion.

That is a decision.

I look at him.

“I need you to answer one thing.”

His face is pale beneath the anger and beard.

“What?”

I hate that my voice almost breaks.

I hate even more that I still need to know.

“Was last night real?”

His entire body goes rigid.

Trixie turns away like the question is too private even for her.

Bitter stares at me.

For one second, I see him.

The man from the bed. The man who kissed the center of my palm. The man who got scared when I told him I trusted him.

He is right there.

I know he is.

Then the door slams shut again.

“Sweet.”

That is not an answer.