Page 51 of Vow

The dog never got to sleep in Andino’s bed. It was a rule he’d made when the pup was little, and once peed in the sheets because he was too scared to jump down.

Not when they were here, though.

At Haven’s, Snaps got to sleep wherever the fuck he wanted. And the dog made sure to get right up on the bed, and put his big ass body between Andino and Haven for the entire night. It would be cute … if it wasn’t a cockblock.

He should have gotten up earlier, and headed out of Haven’s place if only so that he could make a trip home to get something decent to wear. A dress shirt that wasn’t as wrinkled, or just an entirely new suit.

Who the fuck was going to notice?

He should put in the effort for today; it was a big day. God knew Dante would expect him to seem like he knew it was important, and to behave like it. The least he could do was act like he gave a damn about it all, but even that was asking for a little too much from Andino.

Besides, while he was still there with Haven, even if she was still sleeping and entirely unaware that he was about to slip out of her house, he was there. With her, and no one else. He didn’t even want to think about what was coming once he left her house.

One thing at a time.

Andino sat on the edge of the bed, and kept watch on Haven over his shoulder as he toed on his loafers. With her back turned to him, all he could see was the blonde strands of her hair fanned out along the expanse of the pillow and the shape of her curves tucked under a white sheet. It took every ounce of his willpower not to wake her up … even just to say goodbye.

His reasons for leaving her asleep were entirely selfish—he might as well just admit that right now. If he woke her up, and she asked why he was leaving so early, then Andino was going to have to lie. He surely couldn’t tell her the fucking truth without Haven throwing something at his head.

Not that he wouldn’t deserve exactly that.

He would.

Andino knew he was hurting this woman. Probably more than she could take even if she did put on one hell of a brave face for him. He didn’t want to keep hurting her, so instead, he was stuck in this cat and mouse chase with Haven until his plans finally came together … and he was able to get what he wanted.

Her.

That was Andino’s only end-goal right now.

Just Haven.

She still wouldn’t understand why he had to do what he had to do today. It would still hurt her. He opted for the coward’s way out instead.

Standing from the bed, Andino shrugged on his suit jacket, and made quick work of buttoning it up the front. At least then, no one would notice the vest and tie underneath were the same navy blue silk from the day before, and his slightly wrinkled shirt would also be hidden. He considered that a win.

Andino’s feet seemed to turn into cement when he rounded the bed to Haven’s side. Despite not wanting to wake her up, he also didn’t want to fucking leave. All that served to do was make him feel heavier than ever.

He didn’t miss the items on her nightstand beside the bed. Every single note he’d left her in a little pile—it was really his only way of safely getting a message to her, but also, he thought it felt more personal. At least, for him.

He wrote to no one.

He wrote to her, though.

She kept those notes like she kept the flowers on her table. Even if the flowers were wilting something terrible now. It would be easy—he figured—for her to throw the flowers away since they were dying anyway, but she didn’t.

She kept them.

It kind of felt like them, in a way.

He was sure this woman—this amazing, beautiful woman with her brilliant, bright soul—thought this thing between them was also dying. But fuck her if she wasn’t going to try to hold onto them for as long as she possibly could.

Andino didn’t blame her.

Bending down, he grazed his fingertips along her bare shoulder before pressing a quick, light kiss to her forehead. Haven didn’t move, and her eyelids didn’t even flicker. He almost wished she would get up, but this was better.

Before Andino could convince himself to stay one more second longer, he gave Haven one last look and then slipped out of her bedroom. Snaps followed behind—it was only the click of his nails against the hardwood floor that could be heard. Andino’s steps were quiet and quick as he headed through the house.

As he passed by the kitchen, he stopped and glanced in. The flowers looked lonely as fuck sitting by themselves on the table. Really, other than a few boxes that had been taped up, the table and flowers were the only thing in the kitchen besides a few dishes that rested on a cloth on the counter.