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“That’s a lot. That’s scary.”
You knew he had a kid!!! It's gonna be more serious.
“Don’t fuck with me, girl,” Burgess panted, landing a sharp slap to her ass.
“It’s not a home without you.” He pulled her close. “Not anymore. Come back.”
Life doesn’t happen on her timeline. She’d found her people before she was ready, but if she didn’t seize this moment with them, there might not be another one. Her plan had been to surprise Burgess when he got home from Pittsburgh by coming back to live with him and Lissa. For good. It’s still going to happen.
So... If he snaps and/or lashes out because of what just happened you aren't gonna leave, right? Like plese no dumb third act breakup, there's already enough going on.
He studied her for a moment. “He’s such a private person, I couldn’t believe it when he asked me to bring his sweatshirt to his girlfriend.” The trainer chuckled. “I asked him where you were sitting and he said, just ‘look for the most beautiful woman in the place.’”
“Of course.” The trainer hesitated, looking between Tallulah and the door. “Look, he’s obviously not himself right now. Maybe . . . just be prepared.”
Girl... Whatever he says please don't run like your dumbass friend did with Wells.
“Did you think you would fly here and say something inspirational to make all the difference? That’s not happening.” His throat worked with a swallow. “I’m done with hockey and we both know it, Tallulah. It has never been more pathetically obvious that you’re too young for me. If you think I’m going to have my college student girlfriend help me walk again after this surgery, you’re dead wrong. I would have rather died out on the ice.”
Ooof.
“You think you’re strong enough to get me through this? You’re not a coward who walks away, right?” His voice turned almost unnatural, like he was rushing to get the words out or he’d lose his nerve. “But there’s a ziplock full of postcards in your purse that say different.”
Dude...
Cold shock swallowed her in one bite. This wasn’t the Burgess she’d fallen in love with. He was unrecognizable. A different man altogether. He’d fooled her. Tricked her into thinking he was different. Lulled her into a sense of complacency, before ripping off the mask. Perhaps not as bad as the man who’d locked her in a closet with the intention of killing her, but emotional cruelty brought its own brand of injuries. And as she continued to back toward the exit, those open wounds started to hemorrhage.
Okay, that's a little fucking much… Girl I get that what he said was fucked but that's a little much to compare him to thec stalker/kidnapper.
She turned and walked away.
At least this isn't as stupid as the last book.
just want to die. Let me die.
Unfortunately I know this is a realistic reaction... Poor guy. :/
Sig crossed his arms, regarding Burgess in the hospital bed without a single trace of sympathy. More like disgust. And even in his rock-solid state of self-pity and misery, Burgess felt a spark of appreciation for that. “You remember why we’re here, golf man. Tell him.” “Ah. That’s right.” Wells swept off his hat and slapped it to the center of his chest. “Welcome to your intervention.” “Intervention, my ass.” The roar burned his throat. “Get the hell out.”
Wells stepped forward. “As you know, Burgess, I literally fired my girlfriend as my caddie. Fired her. Believe me, I wanted to drink myself to death afterward, because . . .” He shot a glare toward Sig. “You didn’t tell me this intervention was going to require me to relive my own emotional trauma.” “Why didn’t you?” Burgess said hoarsely, still thinking of Tallulah soaring in a hot-air balloon. Wells squinted an eye. “Why didn’t I what?” Focus. “Why not drink yourself to death instead of coming here and annoying me?” “Love you too, man. I didn’t drink myself to death because there was a
...more
Sig shook his head at Wells. “You know, the thing about this intervention, Sir Savage, is we knew you were going to be stubborn. Hence, we prepared layers.” That tick behind Burgess’s eye accelerated. “What do you mean by layers?” Wells put two fingers in his mouth and whistled. The rookies walked in. “Oh, Jesus Christ,” Burgess complained, wishing he was closer to the window, so he could jump out. Maybe get lucky and become impaled by a flagpole. “Are you serious?”
The rookies’ mouths dropped open. “I don’t like it when Mom and Dad fight.” “Me either.”
Sig kicked the bed, as if to say be nice to her or die.
Tallulah had made him see that, hadn’t she? Lissa remained stoic for several beats of time, before her chin started to wobble. “Dad?” “Yes?” It took her a long time to speak. “I messed everything up,” she whispered finally. “I keep thinking about how happy you looked with Tallulah before . . . I said those horrible things to her. I didn’t even mean them, I was just sad.” “She knows that, Liss.”
Burgess flicked a look at Sig. Sig nodded. Burgess pointed at Wells. “I’ll go to rehab if you take back their plus ones. Tallulah and Chloe. No dates allowed.” Wells rocked back on his heels. “Is that what that whole silent communication thing was about earlier?” They gave a synchronized shrug. One of the Orgasm Donors smacked the other one in the shoulder. “Why don’t we communicate silently like that?” “We do. What am I thinking about right now?” “Banana pudding.” “Holy shit!” “Fine.” Wells sighed, but the corner of his mouth ticked up. “Worked like a charm.”
No. No, he’d lost her. He’d shown his true colors and abandoned the trust they’d built. She would never allow him to get close enough to hurt her again. Ever.
Girl, shut the hell up... Be so fucking for real.
Five weeks later,
Bruh.
Sig sat beside his future stepsibling reading a book about financial investment strategies, an interesting choice for a professional hockey player, but she didn’t comment.
Judgey bitch.
Her help.
Oh, now you are pissing me off.
She wasn’t nervous about seeing a man who didn’t even like to dance. A man who didn’t seize his chance to skinny dip or meet new people. A man that didn’t suit her—at all. He could be staring down at her right now and she’d be unaffected. Unmoved.
Thank you, next. I’m over you, Burgess Abraham.
shut uuuuuuuppppp.
All it took was an instant for the pain of his rejection to come flooding back.
HE DID NOT REJECT YOU!? BE FR.
“It’s a dress you wear when you want someone to regret losing you.” “Even more than he already does?” Sig waved Burgess over. “Doubt that’s possible.” A bolt twisted in between Tallulah’s breasts at the implication that Burgess had been suffering, but she refused to acknowledge it. She’d dealt with more than her fair share of heartache for the last six weeks. She’d loved this man, gone to him and confessed it, despite her arsenal of fears. In return, he’d doused her feelings in kerosene, set them on fire, and told her to split. If he regretted his behavior now? Then good. He should.
i will throw hands with her.
The next time he got wounded and took it out on her.
What he said was horrible, but you shouldn't have just ran knowing it was such a trigger for him. You should have been an adult.
He wanted to take back what he’d said. That much was clear. Over the last six weeks, however, she’d concluded that their breakup was about more than one sharply delivered line during a bad moment. Although, her fear of settling down with someone only to find they were hiding an ugly side had been exacerbated in the hospital. The trust she’d built in him was damaged, oh yes, but their rift went beyond that. They were too different. She wanted adventure. He didn’t take blind leaps. While she danced in the kitchen, he sat out the song. When she jumped into the pond naked, he waited on the shore.
...more
Ugh.
“If you’re talking about our relationship, as short-lived as it was . . .” she said quietly, putting out her hand, terrified he would take it, that his touch would disrupt the stillness she’d worked so hard to achieve. “Why don’t we just agree to . . . forgive and forget.” Slowly, Burgess’s gaze tracked down to her hand, before reestablishing the relentless eye contact that was battering her nervous system. “Forget?” “Yes.” “I couldn’t forget a fucking minute of you if I tried.” With a sharp intake of breath, she took her hand back. “Burgess—”
Joesphine I'm sorry, your dumb bitch friend right here takes the cake as most annoying. :)
“Try harder,” Tallulah suggested sweetly. “I’m sorry, ma’am?” Carlos hedged. She poked the air in front of Burgess’s pecs. “I’m talking to this guy.” “Thank God,” Burgess said gruffly. “That’s one battle down.” “One? How many are there?” “As many as it takes.”
Huh??? So now you want him back??
“It was a hell of a lot more than dating,” Burgess said without taking his attention off Tallulah. “It hardly matters now.” Tallulah turned a smile on their host. “It’s in the past.”
THE FUCK IS YOUR PROBLEM
“I see.” Carlos trailed off momentarily, then came back twice as enthused. “Well, I can’t wait to see how this ruins everything.”
Love him.
“Where are Wells and Josephine?” Burgess wanted to know.
Josephine come talk some sense into her. Dumbass to dumbass.
“You’re going t-to go zip-lining?” Tallulah sputtered. “And jump off a cliff?” “That’s right.” Her heart kicked into a trot, then a gallop. Something was happening here. She’d never seen him look so determined. Not even while playing hockey. “What about your back? You just had surgery!” Tallulah sputtered. “I had surgery almost two months ago. I’ve been rehabbing with the best physical therapists in the country since then. Day and night. My back is stronger than it has ever been.” He cocked his head. “Guess I’ll be proving it in the morning.”
I'm gonna crash out
“You’re going t-to go zip-lining?” Tallulah sputtered. “And jump off a cliff?” “That’s right.” Her heart kicked into a trot, then a gallop. Something was happening here. She’d never seen him look so determined. Not even while playing hockey. “What about your back? You just had surgery!” Tallulah sputtered. “I had surgery almost two months ago. I’ve been rehabbing with the best physical therapists in the country since then. Day and night. My back is stronger than it has ever been.” He cocked his head. “Guess I’ll be proving it in the morning.”
Girl... Do you care or not care? Make up your damn mind.
Or worse still, that each and every one of them could end up on his floor.
I swear to god.... DO YOU WANT HIM BACK OR NO?!
We weren’t even together for five minutes when you threw me out.”
girl be for real.
Tallulah’s body moved on instinct, turning to face the wall and flattening her palms against it, moving her backside on top of the hardness that had been growing since their lips touched. Maybe before. “Yes, yes, I want that.”
If you go back on your BS after this, I will crash out.
“Let go, Tallulah. Get me out of your system. Go ahead. Scream and shake until I’m gone. Come on, girl.” He drove into her faster, her backside slapping loudly on his thighs, his mouth open and panting on her neck. “I love you, though. I love you. I fucking love you and you’re going to feel that until I’m dead and gone. The love isn’t going anywhere. Come on my dick while I’m telling you I love you. I dare you to kick me out after that.”
If you don't want him, I'll take him
“I moved on. I did.”
Then why fuck him?
You can stop panicking now, Tallulah. I’m setting you free.
i will crash out.
Burgess had appeared to be reeling while she’d sat beside him swallowing apologies, reminding herself over and over that she had nothing to feel sorry for. And she didn’t.
Mmmm... You kinda do, acting like you aren't grown and being immature.
Every time they touched now, her fight-or-flight response was triggered. Unfortunately, not even the hunger she still felt for Burgess could overcome her instinct to survive, to avoid being hurt again.
I'm so annoyed cuz why did you fuck him then?!
He’d decided to respect her wishes and let her go.
Isn't that what YOU wanted?!
But his speech, followed by his pointed leap from the platform made it obvious that . . . now he was the one moving on. Out of respect for her wishes, her pain. Which was exactly what she wanted. Right.
Can we just wrap this up?
He’d entered self-preservation mode.
But Burgess hadn’t mentally checked out, had he? Not voluntarily. She’d forced him to. Acknowledging that to herself made her heart rattle and dive down into her stomach, the taste of her martini souring in her mouth. He’d told her that making love with her when she wasn’t all in, sure of their relationship, would mess him up. And it clearly had. While trying to keep herself protected against being hurt again, she’d hurt Burgess. She’d ignored his request for sensitivity, even though he’d had such a hard time giving it. How could she do that? It wasn’t until later, as she lay down on her hotel
...more
Girl please... You are a smart woman, go say sorry.
But Burgess hadn’t mentally checked out, had he? Not voluntarily. She’d forced him to. Acknowledging that to herself made her heart rattle and dive down into her stomach, the taste of her martini souring in her mouth. He’d told her that making love with her when she wasn’t all in, sure of their relationship, would mess him up. And it clearly had. While trying to keep herself protected against being hurt again, she’d hurt Burgess. She’d ignored his request for sensitivity, even though he’d had such a hard time giving it. How could she do that? It wasn’t until later, as she lay down on her hotel
...more
Girl finally
“Sorry for the interruption folks, but this is my only chance to say something. Tomorrow at the reception will be the best man’s turn for a speech and well . . . I can’t let the opportunity pass to tell my future son-in-law that I love him. We both do, my wife and me. When you have a child, you never think anyone is going to be good enough for them. But Wells proved me wrong. He’s not just good enough for her, he’s the only one for her.” He raised his glass. “And I want to officially welcome him to the family.”
She’d been his incentive. “He was interviewed for the article, of course. He doesn’t mention the woman by name, but . . . let’s see . . .” He used the candle to highlight a passage. “He said, ‘Am I motivated by a return to hockey? Sure. But mostly, there’s a woman. There’s an incredible woman. The thought of her is getting me there. Healing me more than any medicine ever could.’”
