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.""I'm a big girl.I've spent most of my life alone.I'll be fine." Maybe if she kept repeating that, she'd start to believe it.Right now she felt physical pain.She hurt everywhere."What about the keys?""I have a set.I needed them when I met with the appraiser the other night.""Okay, good.Go ahead and make yourself at home.You can use the guest room for as long as you want.It looks like I'll be staying here for a while.Just take care of yourself, and let me know if you need anything.""Um, Ben, how are you with cats?""Other than allergic?""Oh.Okay.I can probably leave Tripod with Rich until my place is finished.If not, maybe Mike and Annabelle can take him.""I'm sorry, Becca.""No, it's fine.Thanks so much, Ben.I'll be in touch about the deal.It's looking really good to me right about now.""I'm ready to finalize things whenever you are.If you want to move up the date, it's not a problem.""I'll think about it.Thanks again for everything.I owe you one."When Becca disconnected the call, she looked around her at her packed luggage.She knew she was going to have to start building her new life all over again.She'd leave with less than she came with, because Rich had stolen her heart, and no matter how little sense it made, she still loved him.She wished love could be turned off, but no matter how hurt and angry she was, she still felt it.Even knowing what he'd done, she missed him.And even with all the pain he caused her, she wished she could go back to being blissfully unaware.She wrapped her arms around herself and lost the battle with tears.Rich sat on the couch listening to Becca cry.Every sob was a knife to his heart.He forced himself to listen, wanting to break the door down, gather her in his arms, and make it better.But how? She wouldn't even look at him.He'd never felt so damn helpless.The situation had spiraled out of control, and he couldn't do a thing to stop it.He'd lost her, and Christ, he had no idea what to do to get her back.Tripod crawled onto his lap and lay against Rich's chest."I fucked up bad, buddy."Tripod responded with something that sounded amazingly like "now what?""I don't know.I don't know what I can say to make her believe me." Rich shook his head wondering if he was going off the deep end.Maybe this was what insanity was like.If it was, it sucked, it hurt, and he had a feeling it was just going to get worse—not that it really mattered.Nothing mattered anymore, not without Becca.He took another sip of his Jack Daniels.Drinking was probably not a smart thing to do since drinking Jack Daniels was what got him in this position in the first place.He needed to find a way to make things right.Rich pulled his phone off the charger and called Vinny."Fuck, Richie.What the hell are you doing calling me at one in the morning?""I got a problem.""Just one? What the hell do you want me to do about it?""Vin, she's leaving me.""Whoa, okay.What the hell did you do?""I asked her to marry me on Monday—""And I'm just hearing about this now? What the fuck?""She didn't say yes.""What the hell did she say?""When I asked? Nothing.Then later she was all suspicious.'Why did you ask me to marry you?' like I had some kind of ulterior motive.""You did.You were afraid you were going to lose her.I guess I should have warned you not to pull a stupid stunt like that, but I didn't think even you'd be that dumb.""Thanks, Vin.You're making me feel so much better.""Eh? What do you want from me? Do you want me to help you, or do you want me to be like one of your professor friends and blow sunshine up your ass?""Christ, what am I gonna do? She's packing her things and crying.I hurt her, Vin.Dean Stewart told her I got the promotion and that with her family connections and her rich father, I could go far.She thinks I used her to get my job, and that by marrying her, getting her trust fund is like a two-fer.""Look, the bar is open.Why don't you come down here, and we'll, you know, think of something."Rich took a sip of his drink and ran his hand over Tripod's stomach."I can't.If I leave, so will Becca.""What are you doing? Holding her hostage or something?""No, but I'll be damned if I let her leave me without at least talking about this.Vin, she thinks I used her.She thinks I lied to her—that I'm after her money or somethin'.I made her cry.""Fuck, I hate it when they cry.I'd rather have a freakin' rectal exam than have to listen to Mona cry.But Richie, you can't make her stay, and you can't make her talk to you.All you can do is let her go and then do everything you can to get her back.Prove to her she's wrong about you.She is, isn't she?""Fuck you.""Eh, I gotta ask.It's Mickey's little sister we're talkin' about here [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]