AllFreeNovel
Share Us
How did I explain to him his betrayal by walking out on me made me see him in a different light? It turned the brightness down and showed me a dark side I wallowed in for one too many days. That pain, that excruciating pain mixed with regret, anger, and disappointment was something I never wanted to feel again. And though I believed him, I was still scared. He left me once. Who’s to say he wouldn’t do it again?
I survived a betrayal from him once, and I could probably survive again, but I didn’t want to survive. I wanted him to be the Nero I always thought he was. He might be being honest with me right now because emotions were high, but what about when that died down?
I met his gaze. “You said you’d fight for me.”
“Always. Even if you don’t want me to.”
“I’m asking you to stand down while I figure out a way to trust you again.”
His entire body stilled, and lines plagued his face as if I had physically harmed him. He inhaled sharply. “I understand.” He moved away from me. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“I never should have given you reason to doubt me. Knowing I lost your trust… I imagine a knife to the heart would be kinder.”
“Tell that to Judith Meyer or Bob Simms,” I said, and when he laughed, my heart healed a little more.
“I’ll stand down, but I don’t want to be out of your life, Lanes. I miss you showing up at the tasting bar every night for a glass before you head home. I miss seeing you and talking to you. I think it’s why I haven’t been sticking around the winery. I have no reason to anymore.”
“If you think your charm is going to make me forget—”
“It’s not charm, Lanes. It’s the truth.”
“Did you two get lost?” Odette’s voice echoed across the parking lot.
“Will you leave them the hell alone?” Albert’s voice was like thunder.
Nero held his finger up and counted down to three and mouthed, “Language!” right as Odette said it.
Nero held my gaze for a second longer than stepped out from behind the cars. “We’re coming,” he said. He turned to me. “Ready to head to the circus?”
“Only if I can fly on the trapeze.”
“I don’t think there are any of those, but there are tons of clowns and even a lion tamer.”
A very unladylike snort came from me. “Did you just call Craig a lion tamer?”
“Swap his gavel for a whip, and it’s the same thing.”
“You got a point.”
He held his arm out to me, and I didn’t hesitate, slipping beneath it. He pulled me to his side, and for the first time since he left me in that hotel room, things were finally feeling like us again.
I stood outside the tasting room. Nero said he missed me, but was I setting myself up to go to the friend zone? I’d been there before. I was okay there. Comfortable. I knew my place. Maybe going back there was for the best.
Either way, I missed him, too, and if friends were what we were supposed to be, then I would accept it. No matter what happened, Nero had always been and would always be a part of my life. I just wished I could still trust him. Or at least understand why he bailed on me.
He made me think I was special. Made me believe I was different from the rest. But in the end, I wasn’t, and that’s what hurt the most.
With a deep breath, I stepped inside. I avoided my intrusive thoughts and went right to the tasting bar. It was a bit crowded and would continue to be as fall approached. Chris and Donna were behind the bar, but I couldn’t find Nero.
I found an open stool and glanced around, searching for him.
“If you’re looking for Nero, he took off,” a woman with long brown hair and a pretty smile said.
“Oh. I…”
“You fall for his charm, too?” She shifted, her tight low-cut shirt showing off pert breasts and a tiny waist.
