Jesus, what a fucking mess.
“I’m his favorite tourist,” Maxine retorts with a smug smile. “Who are you?”
“She’s more,” I cut in, refusing to let this go on any further.
Max challenges that response with a lift of her chin. “So much more that you couldn’t tell me about her before I came?”
“I didn’t invite you here,” I remind her. “We had an arrangement. A casual one. Don’t make it out to be more than what it was.”
Her eyes narrow into tiny slits as her ego deflates like a balloon. “Fine. Have it your way, but don’t come crawling back to me when you get bored with her.” She storms out of the shop before I can hit back, the echo of her heels trailing in the aftermath of her fury.
My attention shifts to Elle, and I find myself struggling to look her in the eyes as she descends the stairs.
“I’m sorry,” I apologize weakly, knowing the words are inadequate. “I had no idea she would show up here.”
Her demeanor is deceptively calm as she stands before me. “Who is she?”
It’s a question I desperately wish to evade, but I don’t because she deserves to know. “Just someone I met a couple of years ago. She travels here for work sometimes.”
Her eyes flare in surprise. “Wow, a couple of years…”
I shake my head, knowing where she’s going with this. “It wasn’t like that. I’ve only met with her a few times.”
“Why didn’t you ever mention her to me?”
“Because it didn’t mean anything.” That might make me sound like a dick but it’s the truth. Maxine was a scratch to an itch, just like any other.
“So, what does that say about me?”
My brows knit together in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“You never mentioned me to her either. Is that because I don’t mean anything to you?”
My blood heats at the question, my eyes narrowing. “I’m not dignifying that with an answer.”
She tilts her chin, refusing to back down. “Why not?”
“Because you fucking know better.”
“Do I?”
“Yeah, you do,” I snap, my temper flaring. “You’re just pissed off right now, and I don’t blame you, but don’t make this out to be about my feelings for you, Elle. It has nothing to do with that. It never did. Besides, it’s not like this is the kind of thing we have ever discussed before, and if I’m being honest, I really don’t want to fucking start now.”
A bitter laugh escapes her lips. “Well, too damn bad, we’re going to talk about it because I would like to be prepared for any other ‘meaningless’ women who might saunter in here expecting a quick fuck by you. How many have there been, Gunnar? Three? Four? Ten? Were they all your ‘favorite tourists’?”
Now it’s my turn to laugh. “Now you’re just being ridiculous.”
“How am I supposed to know? Like you said, we’ve never talked about it before.”
“And we aren’t going to now because it doesn’t fucking matter,” I retort sharply. “It never mattered. You matter. We matter. This matters. No one else.”
“If that’s true, then why didn’t you respond to her?” she yells, her voice tinged with anger. “Why didn’t you tell her we were together?”
“Because I was knee-deep in shit when she messaged, and I forgot,” I snap. “I know that’s a shitty excuse, Elle, but it’s all I got because it’s the truth.”
“Or maybe it’s because you’re not as certain about all of this as you thought.” The words fly out of her mouth like daggers, each one hitting its target with precision.
“What did you just say?”
She drops her gaze, refusing to repeat herself.
“You can’t seriously think that?”
“I don’t know,” she cries. “I feel like I don’t know anything right now.”
“Bullshit!” I jab a finger in her direction. “You know me, and you damn well know I wouldn’t be trying to have a fucking baby with you if I had any doubts.”
She throws her hands up. “And yet, here we are, fighting and questioning everything!”
“I’m not questioning anything. You are.”
“You’re right, I am,” she chokes out, her resolve crumbling into tears. “I’m questioning why I’m not getting pregnant. Why it hurts so much to know you were with someone else even though I already knew you were.” Each word tumbles out of her with so much pain and anguish, it practically paralyzes me. “Now, I’m left wondering if this is all happening for a reason. That maybe no matter how much I want this with you or how much I love you, maybe it’s just not meant to be.”
The final part lands like a crippling blow to my chest, leaving me gasping for breath.
“Jesus, Ellie, no.” I barely manage the words as I step toward her.
“No, please don’t,” she pleads between sobs, recoiling as if my touch might burn her. Tears carve a path of devastation down her face, casting every feature in heartbreak as she slowly backs away. “I’m sorry. So sorry, but I can’t do this right now. I need some time.”
