Page 132

I nod, and he jerks his chin toward Vi, now frantically shoving things in her tote bag. “Go to her, man. Now.”

Go to her.

It should be simple.

Only, the pit in my stomach tells me it’s going to be anything but.

Have you ever thought that maybe it isn’t all your fault your past relationships didn’t work out?

No.

Not until Violet.

And today is my chance to start believing that, to start living it.

I nod at Beck and step fully into the bedroom, closing the door behind me, leaning back against it.

The click of the lock engaging has Violet freezing, her panicked eyes coming to mine.

“Talk to me,” I order.

Her eyes slide away.

“Violet, baby. Beck heard you say the name TJ⁠—”

She jumps, clutching her bag to her chest.

“Please talk to me.”

She shakes her head, moves to her suitcase, lifting it upright. And even if she wasn’t silent, her movements would tell me that she’s not right.

They’re jerky and robotic, not at all like the graceful woman I’ve come to love.

“Baby.”

She stops. Looks down and takes a deep breath.

And when she glances back up at me I brace.

Because for the first time in days, the ice is back.

“Our two weeks are up, Ace,” she says cooly and if her hair magically wrapped itself up into that damned bun of hers, I wouldn’t be surprised, her words are that cold. “Since things are messy, I’ll have my accountant transfer your deposit back to you. And obviously, I won’t expect you to pay the second half⁠—”

For a second, I don’t understand what the fuck she’s saying.

Then I get it.

“The fuck you will,” I snap, marching over to her and yanking her bag out of her hand. I toss it onto the bed, not caring that the contents spill everywhere. “That’s your money and you can’t give it back.”

She turns away from me and snatches her phone up from where it fell onto the carpet. Then she’s tapping at the screen, unlocking it.

I reach over and yank that away from her too.

“Hey!”

“The fuck you will,” I say again and this time, she stills, her eyes finally coming to mine.

Yup.