“You ran again,” he said, ignoring her words. “Didn’t even give me a chance to talk to you.”
“I knew what you’d say.”
“Oh?”
She tossed out her hands. “That you’d thought about it and decided you couldn’t do long term. That I wasn’t worth giving up your other women for. That you’d gotten exactly what you wanted from me and it was time to part ways.”
That I’d never be good enough for someone like you. She paced the length of her open-concept living room.
“It’s all bullshit, of course,” she said, rounding on him. “I was the best thing that ever happened to you, and if you can’t see it, then you don’t deserve me.”
Her bravado felt good. A show of strength was better than crying at his feet. She would not be forced down when she’d finally learned for to stand again. Her heart might be nothing but ribbons in her chest, but it didn’t mean he could walk all over her.
But instead of arguing, his next words stopped the tirade on her tongue.
“I agree.”
Avery blinked. “What?”
“Of course you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’d have to be mad to sabotage what we have.”
“Had,” she corrected.
He shook his head. “I didn’t sleep with Lea. I haven’t slept with anyone but you since our night at the gala.”
The air rushed from her lungs. “What?”
“That night when you came to my room, things weren’t as they seemed. Lea was trying to get me to start something with her, and you know what I realized?” He stepped closer.
She shook her head.
“That I couldn’t imagine ever wanting anyone but you.”
“That can’t be true,” she said, even though the desperate desire to believe him threatened to overwhelm all reason. She retreated a step, knowing if he touched her she’d be lost.
“I’ve never lied to you,” he said. “Even when it would have been in my best interests to do so.”
He had a point. But she’d seen the triumph in Lea’s eyes. She certainly hadn’t walked all the way to Hayden’s room wearing nothing but a sheer tank top and bra that left nothing to the imagination. She’d undressed once she got there.
Sometimes there was no avoiding some facts, and this was one of those times. No matter what he said, she knew what she’d seen.
Don’t weaken. Don’t believe the story and fall back into his arms.
Because if she did, she’d always be waiting for the axe to drop. She’d always wonder if another woman had crept into his bed when she was away traveling. Or if his business trips were just excuses to play behind her back.
No. Broken trust couldn’t be fixed.
“I can’t,” she said, shaking her head. “I’ve been here before.”
“I know.” He took another step, stalking toward her until her back hit the wall. “I would never hurt you like he did.”
“He said all the same things,” she whispered. “I didn’t touch her, baby. I only want you. I promise there will never be another.” She shook her head. “He loved me enough to marry me, and even that wasn’t enough to stop him from straying. How could I ever believe I was enough for you?”
He stopped directly before her. “Because you’d have to trust me,” he said. “Trust me when I say I never laid a hand on Lea. Why would I, Avery? I knew you were coming.”
She blinked. Yes, he had. “I was early.”
“You’re always early. Even if you weren’t, it would still have been a dumb thing to do. Do I strike you as a man who would make such a mistake?”
No. If he were going to cheat on her, he would have put more thought into his plan.
Unless he didn’t care whether I found out or not.
“Was it your way of ending us?” she asked, pain infusing her words even though she tried to stay strong. “Did you do the only thing you knew would drive me away?”
He raised a hand to touch her before seeming to think twice about it. “I’m not an idiot.”
“Why are you here, Hayden?” Her heart ached at being so near him. His three minutes were up. She needed him to leave.
“I needed to set the record straight. Do you believe me?”
She closed her eyes, unsure of what to do. It’s true he was smarter than Jon, and her ex had managed to hide his cheating for years. Then again, everyone made mistakes in the heat of the moment.
She looked up at the man of her dreams. “Does it matter?” she asked wearily. “We’re back in the real world. Things are different now.”
“It matters.”