“And I helped,” I fill in.
“I fell in love with you,” he says harshly, pain written on his face.
My heart drops like an elevator in freefall.
I haven’t heard those words in so, so long.
“I fell in love with you and that was on me. That was my choice. I chose you, Natasha. There’s nothing you could have done to stop me.” He pauses, running his hand over his jaw. He gives a quick shake of his head. “Everything I said on the phone was a lie. I can’t believe I was too fucking scared to let you believe it for so long.”
I’m sorry too, I think. Because I ruined him. He may say it’s all on him, but it takes two to tango. We may not have slept together, nor been all that intimate at all, but when I told him I loved him, I willingly jumped into the deep end. I wasn’t naïve. I knew what I was doing and all the risks, and I did it anyway, the whole world be damned, because I loved him.
All because of love.
But I don’t want to get into that with Brigs. I didn’t come here to find out who feels guiltier. I came here because I wanted closure.
So I take a deep breath and say, “I accept your apology.”
It sounds lame but I hope he knows I mean it.
He eyes me. “You’re sure?”
I nod. “Yes, I’m sure. Brigs…I’m still trying to figure out what to do with you.”
He cocks a brow. “What to do with me?”
“The past will destroy me if I think about it too much. I’ve worked too hard to get back on my feet. I can’t even imagine how you did it. I want to keep putting it all behind me and try to move on, but it feels impossible when my past is standing before me.”
Just a foot away. So close I can breathe him in.
“I see,” he says softly. “I understand. That’s all I wanted to say, really. Just that I’m sorry. And I don’t think I’ll ever stop being sorry.”
“And neither will I.” I sigh and press my fist to my forehead. “But at the same time…this can’t be it.”
A glimmer of hope flashes through his eyes as he stares at me expectantly.
I give him a wan smile. “It’s what you said in your email. About disappointing fate. I don’t want to do that either. I don’t think I can live with you in my life as a stranger. It doesn’t seem right.”
He takes a small step toward me, his eyes trained so intently on my face, roaming from my brow to my nose to my lips. “What does seem right?” His voice is so low.
I lick my lips and his eyes linger longer. “I don’t know.”
He continues to study me and I continue to hold my breath.
“Come for a drink with me tonight,” he says after a few long, tension-filled beats.
I give him a wary look. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“Why not?”
“You’re a teacher. I’m a student.”
“I’m not your teacher, for one thing. And for another…” He smiles wickedly. “I don’t really care.”
“I don’t know.” It’s damn tempting. That smile alone is making me weak in the knees. But when I said I didn’t want to make him a stranger, I’m not sure hopping to a pub right away is the right solution.
Oh, who am I kidding. It’s exactly what I want. I’ve been in his presence for five minutes now, and though I know the past is a wolf at our door, I haven’t felt this alive in years. It’s like I’m clicking with the solar system, my body charging cell by cell.
“Where?” I finally ask, giving in.
That smile again. Jesus.
“Any good places near you?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I’m at Wembley and there’s shit all.”
“Then my neighborhood,” he says. “I’m in Marylebone. There’s a pub you’d like called The Volunteer. Say, eight o’clock?”
“Okay,” I say quietly, stunned at where this meeting progressed. “You sure you won’t get in trouble?”
“We’re friends, Natasha,” Brigs says. “And we were friends before I started here. It’s not a problem. It will never be a problem. Friends have drinks together all the time.”
Friends.
I’m not sure if that’s what we are, but I’ll take it. It’s better than strangers.
“See you at eight, then,” I tell him, turning around and heading for the door so I can go freak out about it in private.
Brigs says goodbye and I’m gone.
***
“Now where are you going all dolled up?” Melissa asks while I stand in front of the bathroom mirror, carefully applying magenta lipstick that I know is going to smear all over my face and clothes in a matter of minutes. I’m so not used to wearing it, and I have a bad habit of getting it everywhere.