He shakes his head and begins to pace the floor. “How the fuck didn’t we know this, Rebecca?” he says on a growl, his eyes wild and his fists clenched.
I shrug, unsure as to why he’s angry, it’s not exactly my fault. “We never really discussed our jobs or professions last night, we were a little preoccupied.” My cheeks heat as memories of what happened mere hours ago assault me.
His shoulders slump forward and he strides toward me and wraps his arms around me. “It’ll be okay,” he assures me. “I told you last night, Rebecca, you’re mine and I fucking meant it.”
I release a ragged breath. “I know you did, but things have changed, Easton. We can’t do this. You said so yourself, this is your dream job, I can’t—won’t let you lose it because of me. I won’t give up on my dream either.”
He frames my face with his hands, his beautiful blue eyes scanning my face. “Told you, babe, you’re mine. That means I’m not giving you up.”
I swallow hard. He’s making this worse. He should give me up. If he doesn’t, we both could lose everything that we’ve been working hard for. I couldn’t do that to him and I shouldn’t do that to myself.
“Rebecca,” his voice thick and hoarse.
I look away knowing that the longer I stay here the harder it’s going to be to walk away from him. But for both of our sakes I have too.
I get to my feet, they feel like lead but I push past it. “Last night was—” I hesitate, how do you tell the man that you’re falling for that the night you shared was magical but you’re walking away. “—Amazing. I’ll never forget it, Easton, and I hope you won’t either.” Tears spring to my eyes, and I press my lips together to stop the tears from falling. “I hope that you find happiness,” I tell him, my words breaking as I do. The thought of him being with someone else has my heart about to burst with pain. “Be happy,” I repeat as I press a kiss against his lips.
I’d love nothing more than to deepen it, to have his hands on my body and feel every inch of him again. But it’s not right. Not when I’m about to walk away. I take a step back from him and reach for my cell that’s on the island.
I make it to the door before he speaks. When he does, his words are hard and filled with determination. “Rebecca, you think you can walk away and I’ll let you?”
I look back over my shoulder. “You don’t have a choice, Easton. I will not ruin your career and I’d hope you’d respect me enough not to ruin mine before it’s even begun.” I don’t let him say another word, I open his front door and leave his condo.
The second I’m out in the fresh air, the tears fall thick and fast. I’m sucking in breath like my life depends on it. I don’t stop, I continue walking even though every step that I take feels as though my heart is shattering into two. I hit the corner of his street and I stupidly look back, he’s standing at his door in bare feet watching me. His face is etched in pain, but the moment he sees my tears he starts to move toward me.
I can’t do this. I know that if he touches me, I’m going to cave in and give him everything—which means the possibility of losing my place at Clamount University. I turn away from him and start moving quicker, the second I turn the corner I break into a run. For a bookworm who hates exercise, I can sure as hell run fast when I need to.
I run all the way back to mine and Cassie’s apartment, I’m breathless, my face is full of tears, and I’m heartbroken. I know deep down that I made the right decision. As much as I want Easton, there’s no way I could ever jeopardize what he’s worked his ass off for. I’m just not that person.
“Well look what the cat dragged in,” Cassie says the moment I enter our apartment.
I lift my head and look at my best friend, the smile that she was sporting slowly fades. “Cass,” I whisper, my heart aching as my tears fall harder now that I’m home.
“Where is he?” she snarls as she gets to her feet. “I’m going to kill him. Should I call your mom? The cops? An ambulance?”
I shake my head. “He didn’t hurt me,” I assure her and her brows furrow. I move toward her as she retakes her seat on the couch. “It was the most amazing night ever.”
She raises a brow in skepticism. “Becky, hon, I think we have a different view on amazing. My amazing nights never end in tears. He’s obviously doing something wrong.”
I’d laugh if I weren’t so hurt. “I think I fell in love with him.”
She gives me a sad, soft smile. “He was handsome.”
I nod. “He was, we slept together. He was such a gentleman, he never pushed, he let me know that he’d not pressure me if I didn’t want it. But I did and it was—” I pause, trying to regain my composure, hoping that my tears will stop, but they don't. “Magical. I went to sleep with a smile on my face, I knew that I found someone special.”
She pulls me into her arms and begins to run her hand through my hair. “What happened?” she asks softly.
“We spent the morning talking. I swear Cass, with every word he said I fell harder for him. He’s a professor at Clamount.”
Her sharp intake of breath is enough for me to know she understands what’s happened. “Oh, hon, I’m sorry.”
“I want him, Cass, there’s something about him that’s different. But it’s over.”
She continues to run her hand through my hair. “You’ve got two days, Becky, two days to cry, shout, mourn. Then you return to college Monday morning with a smile on your face. I know you, hon, you pushed him away because you’ve worked too hard not to finish what you’ve worked hard for. Don’t let this affect it.”
I nod as I pull back and sit upright. “Two days.”
She smiles. “Two days, so I’m going to the store. We need ice-cream, tequila, and junk food. I’ll even let you pick the movies.”