Forbidden Harmony (Harmony Falls #3) - Elizabeth Kelly Page 0,103

go. Preacher’s on his way up. I love you.”

“Love you too. Text me later.”

She ended the call and smiled at Preacher when he walked in with a basket of clothes. “Hi. That didn’t take long.”

He set the basket of clean clothes on the bed. “How are you feeling?”

“Better,” she said.

“Good. You ready?” He glanced at the watch on his wrist.

“Ready for what?” she said.

“To go home.”

Dismay mixed with a healthy dose of embarrassment made her face red. “Right, of course. Yes, I’m good.”

She slid out of his bed and grabbed her clothes that were sitting on top of his clothes in the basket. “Thank you for washing my clothes.”

“No problem.” He had grabbed his phone and was scrolling through it.

She hurried into the bathroom and quickly got dressed. Her stomach was churning, and she couldn’t believe how stupid she was being. She should be grateful that Preacher let her stay this long, not be upset and close to tears that he was kicking her out. He had done more than enough for her over the last two days and she would plaster a smile on her face and make sure he knew how grateful she was for his help.

Blowing him would be a nice thank you gesture.

She gathered up her toiletries. Yeah, it would be, but even though she was feeling better, she still had her period and she really wasn’t up for sex tonight anyway. Hopefully by the weekend, she’d be over her cold and she would invite him over to say thanks.

If he’s still interested in giving you lessons. Maybe this is it for you. Did you think of that? He said you would want more, and it looks like he was right. He’s come to his senses and is ending it before you really do start believing you guys are a couple or something.

Being upset that he was ending it was probably a good indication that it was time to end it. This thing between them always had an expiry date. That expiry date had been moved up and she had no one to blame but herself. She should have just gone home Friday night instead of staying with him all weekend.

She took a deep breath and arranged her face into a semblance of a smile. She joined Preacher by the bed and dumped her toiletries into her bag. She stuffed his shirt she’d been wearing into the bag as well. “I’ll wash this and return it to you.”

“Sure.” He had a scuffed and worn leather newsletter bag crossed over his chest and he tugged absently on the long strap.

Her face flushed as she put on her flip flops. She had no intention of returning it to him unless he specifically asked for it. She wanted something to remind her of him.

Jesus, you’ll see him at the barbeques and at ball games, you idiot. Stop being so dramatic.

Her stomach clenched tight. She would see him and how awful was that going to be? Worse, how would it feel when she saw him with another woman?

She wanted to barf. She wanted to cry. She wanted to do something extremely dumb like ask Preacher if he wanted to try dating.

Instead, she took another deep breath and slung her bag over her shoulder and grabbed her purse. “Okay, well, thank you again, Preacher. I really appreciate all of your help. I’ll pop by later this week when I’m feeling better and pay you for the um, stuff, from Walgreens.”

He frowned at her. “Why are you acting like you’re taking the bus home, Addison?”

“Well, I know you’re busy and…”

“You’re not taking the bus home,” he said in the now familiar stop arguing with me tone. He took her bag and put it over his shoulder. “Let’s go.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

“Thank you for carrying my bag in,” Addison said.

“You’re welcome. Be right back.” Preacher dropped her bag and his in Addison’s bedroom. When he returned, Addison was still standing by the door and looking weirdly upset.

“What’s wrong?” he said.

“Nothing. Um, so thank you again. I really appreciate you, uh, helping me this weekend and letting me invade your space.”

“No problem,” he said.

“Okay, well, bye then.”

“You want me to leave?” he said.

Shit. He sounded like an idiot. He’d brought Addison back to her place because his apartment was a shithole compared to hers, and he figured she’d prefer to be in her own place and her own bed. But he assumed he’d stay with her. If he’d thought she’d ask him to leave, he would