Page 57 of Miss Typed

She stood up with tears in her eyes. I had no doubt Miranda was genuinely upset, but I also knew she mourned the loss of the relationship she’d pictured rather than me.

“So that’s it? I come all this way and get tossed aside like yesterday’s garbage?”

I tried to conjure up some sympathy as acting like a cold bastard would not help the situation. “Miranda, we haven’t been together in over eight years. I’m no longer the same man you used to know. It’s time you move on.”

“You have to think of your future and your limitations.”

Whatever empathy I’d felt for my ex evaporated. I didn’t need a reminder about my limitations coming from her when I reminded myself about them daily. “I can either drive you to the airport, or I can call a cab. Your choice.”

“Fine. I hope you realize you’re breaking my heart.”

That would imply she had one to break.

“Who else will want you, Aiden?”

Chloe wanted me. Those words resonated in my head with such force they nearly knocked the breath from my lungs.

* * *

In an ideal world, I’d have driven straight over to Chloe’s apartment once I’d dropped Miranda off. After telling Chloe I didn’t do relationships, I was afraid her finding Miranda here had inadvertently hurt her. Perhaps the fact I cared showed I wasn’t completely dead inside.

But as fate would have it, I had to pick up an intoxicated Reid at the airport instead.

“Jesus, man, you smell like bourbon,” I said the moment I met him curbside.

He frowned. “They stopped serving me on the plane. Otherwise, I’d smell like gin, too.”

I got his suitcase while he stumbled to the passenger side door.

“What’s with the tissues?” he inquired, pointing at the Kleenex all over the passenger side floor.

“Miranda was here. I just dropped her off for her flight home.”

“No way. When I called you earlier from my London layover, you didn’t mention it.”

“I didn’t know at the time. Anyhow, she’s heading home now.” She hadn’t spoken with me since we’d left the apartment, instead opting to cry and sniffle during the entire ride. But she’d reapplied her makeup before getting out of the car. Naturally. Appearances were everything.

Reid frowned. “I’d ask what she wanted, but we both know it’s you, buddy.”

I put the car in gear and eased out onto the road. “She doesn’t want me. She wants the picture-perfect family for perfect Christmas cards and perfect social media posts for her friends to be envious of. She seems to believe that missing part of my leg means I should be more eager than ever to apply for the position.”

He snorted before sighing out loud.

Damn, I’d never seen him this way. “Enough about me. How are you holding up?”

He shrugged. “Fine for a guy who caught his fiancée cheating with his brother twenty-four hours ago.”

I winced. It was hard to believe his older brother Chance would want anything to do with Vanessa. Then I remembered Chance’s cryptic words. I was supposed to remind Reid about his brother doing anything for him. Perhaps Chance had even resorted to such lengths to ensure Reid didn’t end up with someone like Vanessa. “Are you positive they were—you know.”

“She was on her knees in front of him. And he had his dick out.”

I suspected a setup, but he was too drunk to accept such a theory now. “Any chance of reconciliation?” I sincerely hoped not, but Reid had carried a torch for Vanessa since middle school.

“No way. We were supposed to be setting a date for our wedding, but instead she cheats on me. Maybe you had it right all along with this whole love thing being overrated.”

Perhaps. Yet why did I feel empty at the thought of spending the rest of my life alone? And why did I instantly picture Chloe’s face?

It was after midnight by the time I got back to my own place, after finally settling Reid in his apartment, two floors down from mine. He’d wanted to talk. I’d simply listened. I hated to see him hurting, but I couldn’t help feeling his breakup may have saved him from future heartbreak down the road.