Page 46 (1/2)

"Vic" I sed Short and sweet I could do this "You’ve got to stop … reaching out" He sat back, his elbows on the bar, his body co a little as if he was holding back a smile "I hter, wishing for athan flats and Hudsons "You and I are done I’m in love with Carter" It was the first time I’d said the words aloud, and they ca it as a question

"Really," Vic drawled out the words "Love?"

"Yes" I lifted my chin and met his eyes

"Do you even knohat love is, Chloe?" Funny that the man who’d tainted the word for me could speak so confidently about it

I liftedit out"

He didn’t like that I saw the tighten of his lips, the clench of his jaw, the curl of his fingers around the lip of the bar’s edge "So it’s the same? As it ith me?"

"No" The next part was cruel and hard but true and necessary and the words fell out painfully "It’s better It’s a real relationship I trust hihts, waiting up for his calls, wondering where he was So irls’ accounts, his jet in the background, their smiles where mine should have been

"And hoell could he treat you, Chloe?" His loose position was gone, his stool e closer, one of his hands wrapping around"Does he let you super-size your fast food order? Get a popcorn at the budget movies?"

"Don’t be an ass" I yankedsome distance, some space, less of him and more of me I raised my arms to my head and breathed deeply Willed myself to relax

He kept his distance, thank God I heard the screech of a stool and looked over, seeing hilass and heit to his lips He scowled at the taste and set it back down "What--you stop drinking too?"

I squared my shoulders and lass, the tumbler slick on its slide across the counter, and I winced when it went over the edge, turning ahen it hit the tile floor, the crash loud and painful

"Bullshit, Chloe I know you You don’t love him And I’m different now I’ve learned froive you the life you deserve" At one tihable

"You’re wrong I love him" Each ti that!" There was another crash of glass and he was on his feet again, stepping towardup in protection

There was a growl from the doorway in the moment before Vic’s hands latched ontothere, or what he had heard but I knehen Vic’s hands grabbed me, Carter ing e A burst of pain flared into the two men who, at different ot to his feet, his hand tight on Vic’s shirt Vic lifted his head, aout "Go ahead," he spat out "Give me your best shot"

"Carter," I spoke quietly but he looked up, his arht I nodded to the three uns underneath their jackets and itchy trigger fingers "Let’s go"

Vic’s fist swung upward as Carter let hi, but I heard the connection and winced Carter stood, his hand wiping at his mouth, his eyes dark, and looked at rabbed my purse It had fallen to its side, and I shoved its loose contents inside, my hands quick, steps quicker, and then ere outside, the night air warht