Sweet Love - Mia Kayla Page 0,85
the hell is my purse?
He reached for my arm and jerked me to face him. “Charlie, what is this—us?” His voice was hard this time.
But I pulled my arm from his grasp, searching for my purse. “Where is my purse?” Full-blown emotions rushed through me like a volcano ready to explode.
“Charlie!” he yelled, causing me to pause. The muscle in his jaw twitched. “What is this—us? Where is this”—he motioned between me and him—“going?”
“You’re going to do this here … now? Really?” My expression pinched. “How selfish can you be right now? I’ve worked for months leading up to this one day, and I basically missed it all.” I was too far gone and over-the-top frustrated to stop now. “You dated Sandy?” My voice didn’t even sound like my own.
How could someone like him date someone like her and then date me?
He reeled back, his facial features falling. “That was forever ago. It was a time in my life I don’t even remember.”
I tore my eyes from his and went on my knees, looking under the couch for my purse. I couldn’t think clearly in his vicinity, and I needed to leave. “What are the chances, right? Yep, this is my life.”
“I couldn’t care less about Sandy. This is about me and you. Charlie … I’m trying to talk to you here. Answer my question.”
I stood then.
“What’s going on between us?”
I straightened to my full height, that volcano of emotion spilling over in a gigantic eruption. “Nothing. How can this”—I motioned between us—“be anything when you’re leaving?” I snapped.
He took a healthy step back as though I’d slapped him. “I asked you to move in with me. To come with me to New York.”
“And I said I’m not going to.” I needed my purse. I needed to get away from him. All this news was too much for me to take—the bombshell news of Sandy and Connor, my wasted exhibit, his freaking-out moment.
“You’re a grown-ass woman who can function on her own and without your mother, whom you didn’t even introduce me as your—”
“As what? As my boyfriend?” I threw up both hands, screaming at this point. “Because you’re not. Why the hell would I introduce her to someone who was not going to be here in a month anyway?”
“I asked …”
He was like a never-ending broken record on repeat.
“I know, and I said no.” I shoved a finger into his chest. “I know I’m a grown-ass woman, but contrary to your belief, it’s my choice to stay here because I want to. Because I love my life here and my friends and my mom. Because being in the same state as my mom is important to me. Because I want to be with her and have her watch my kids and watch her grow old and happy with Richard. Just because you don’t want to be by your family and you’re not close doesn’t mean that I’m the same way because I’m not. You’re not winning this one, Connor. And I’m not choosing my mom or my life here over you. I’m choosing me. This is my decision.”
Between the corner of the couch and the wall, I saw a sliver of silver—my purse.
I rushed toward it, chucked the strap over my shoulder, and headed toward the door. “I’m calling an Uber.” It was probably too late to call my mom.
“Charlie …” He followed me outside.
Shit. I had to lock up.
I walked back in toward the light panel, shut off all the lights, and walked outside again to lock up.
When he reached for my arm because I wouldn’t respond to him, I jerked back. “Stop. I want to go home.”
Both of his hands were up. “Fine. Please, just let me drive you.”
“I’ll catch an Uber.” I pulled out my phone, but then he grabbed it from me. “Connor! You’re such an ass. Give it back!”
His whole demeanor flipped like a coin, and he bent down, his facial features softening. “I’m sorry. Okay?” He reached for my hand, but I pulled back, stubborn. “I’m sorry for saying such shitty things in there. I didn’t mean it. I just want more. I get it … I get that you’re not willing to give me what I want. And I respect that. I have to. Just please … Charlie, let me drive you home.”
We held each other’s stare for a few good solid seconds before I nodded and crossed my arms over my chest.
Connor
The ride home was silent. I wanted her to come