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I have the sudden realization that he’s going to be coming over any second. Sex is the last damn thing on my mind. Within seconds, I hear footsteps and the doorknob turn. But before he can open it, I do it for him, just enough for him to see me but not enough to allow him to come in.
“Hey, sorry about that,” he says. “Turns out I also have to get groceries. But that’s okay, you’re sweet enough for me.”
His smirk does nothing for me. If anything, it makes me angry. He just had this intense phone call talking about me with his father, and then thinks he can just come over and have sex? Absolutely not.
“Actually, I’m going to call it a night,” I say, standing my ground, even as he tries to step forward. “I’m tired.”
Sean frowns. “I know I was gone for a bit, but it wasn’t that long.”
“It was long enough. It’s been a day, and I just want to get some sleep.”
There’s a moment of silence, and I can tell he’s trying to gauge why there’s a shift in tension. “Everything okay?” he asks.
I don’t have the energy to get into it and argue with him. All I want is to be alone and gather my thoughts. There’s a lot I need to rethink and sort out. And I can’t do that with him here.
“I told you, I’m tired,” I say, plastering on a smile. “Sorry. Long day.”
There’s another pause as Sean’s eyes search mine. He leans against the doorframe, which brings his face close to mine. “Sure I can’t change your mind?”
His eyes are mesmerizing. His lashes lower as his eyes land on my lips.
I pull away. “I’m sure. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Tomorrow morning, I’ve got an on-site meeting in Providence. I won’t be around until the early afternoon.”
I take a purposeful step back and start to close the door. “Goodnight, Sean.”
When I try to close the door, he stops it with his hand, his face full of concern. “Are you sure you’re okay?” he repeats.
“I’m fine. Goodnight.”
“Why, Jess? Please wait. What the hell happened? Did I do something wrong?”
“Goodnight.”
“Tell me this isn’t still about that ridiculous rule of yours, is it?”
Ouch. Jerk. The mocking sway in his voice is unmistakable—he believes we’ve breached “that ridiculous rule of mine” one too many times for me to shuffle it back out. Without giving him an answer, I close the door and lock it. Securely.
Letting out a slow breath, I rest my forehead against the wood, trying to hold back tears. I don’t hear anything on the other side for a few seconds, but then Sean retreats to his apartment and I hear the door close behind him.
Do not cry. Do not cry.
Never again will I cry over a man.
27
SEAN
For a second I stand there, staring at Jess’s closed door, wondering what the hell just happened. She seemed pretty into things a few minutes ago, which makes the cold shoulder even more confusing. I know I took a while, but I didn’t think I was gone for that long. She’s always been pretty chill in situations where there was a delay of sorts.
I go back to my apartment more than a little annoyed. But it’s not Jess I’m annoyed with, it’s my father and his shit timing. It’s unnerving enough to deal with him during the day, but now he’s bombarding my phone outside of work hours, and that really takes the cake.
I’ve known this man my whole life, and I’m intimately familiar with his personality by this point, but something about this situation seems to be making him even worse to deal with.
What’s worse, at this point, my hands are tied.
A dull throb starts right between my eyes, and I pinch the bridge of my nose. Maybe it’s a good thing I’m not spending the night at her place. With this impending headache I could use some aspirin and a few hours of sleep. Which is exactly what I do.
