“And she knew I wouldn’t accept it based on a lie. She wanted me to tell her the truth.”
Sean went and poured himself a cup of coffee, hoping the caffeine would help restore some of his equilibrium. Even though he’d been blindsided, this turn of events was a good thing for Emma. She could stop lying to her grandmother. Cat wouldn’t be selling the house out from under her. And, while Emma would still be single, maybe the shenanigans would be a wake-up call to Cat that she didn’t need to worry quite so much.
“I’m happy for you,” he said, and he meant it. What he wasn’t sure was how he felt on his own behalf.
She nodded, but she didn’t look as happy as he expected her to. With the house soon to be in her name and him soon to be out from under her feet, he was surprised she wasn’t dancing across the kitchen.
He took a bracing sip of the coffee, not bothering with cream or sugar. “So…I guess that’s it, then.”
She nodded again, her hands folded so tightly on the table her knuckles were pale. “I guess it is.”
He started for the door, but then stopped and looked back at her. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m sure.” She even managed a wobbly smile. “Emotional shock, I guess. So much drama for…no reason. Telling her was terrifying and such a relief at the same time, so it’s probably just the letdown.”
“Okay, then.” He took his coffee into her office and closed the door.
It was over. He was free to go be his own man again, his life revolving around steak, football, beer and women. He could go back to his wild pluralizing ways, as she’d put it during their first dinner together.
Before it could all settle in, he pulled out his phone and hit Kevin’s number on the speed dial. He answered on the second ring, sounding groggy, and Sean belatedly remembered that, due to owning a sports bar, Kevin and his family stayed up late and slept late in the morning.
“Shit. I didn’t mean to wake you.” Sean scrubbed a hand over his face, realizing it was too early to be calling anybody. “Quick question and then you can go back to sleep. Can I still mooch that apartment?”
“Uh-oh.”
“Long story short, she told Cat the truth so my services are no longer needed.”
“You okay?”
He wasn’t sure yet. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Okay. You still got the key?”
“Yup.”
“It’s yours, then. Head on down for a beer later, on the house. You know, when it’s not dark o’clock.”
“The sun’s up, dude. But thanks.”
It took him a depressingly short time to pack his stuff. A few minutes to empty his drawer. Less than two to grab his stuff out of the closet. It took him a little longer in the bathroom sorting his toiletries from hers. He’d just retrieved the stash of condoms from the bedside drawer and tossed them in the duffel, because he’d be damned if he’d facilitate her sleeping with some other guy in the future, when Emma walked in.
“I’ll be out of your way in a few minutes,” he told her. “Just have to gather up a few things downstairs.”
“You don’t have to run out of here, Sean.”
“No sense in hanging around,” he said, maybe a little more gruffly than he’d intended.
“Oh. Okay, then. Gram wants me to go into town with her and she’s ready to go.”
“I’ll leave the key in the mailbox when I leave. Don’t forget to grab it later.”
“Sean.” He shoved a pile of socks into the bag. It was like ripping off a Band-Aid. A clean and fast exit was best for everybody. “Goddammit, Sean, it’s obvious you can’t wait to get out of here, but she wants to say goodbye to you before you go.”
“What about her goodbye barbecue? Or am I uninvited?”
“There’s no sense in dragging your family over here now. She’ll probably have lunch with your aunt or something.”
She tossed something onto the bed and then turned and walked away before he could apologize. He was being a jerk and he couldn’t help it. If he showed any weakness and she gave him some indication she didn’t want him to go, he might stay and this isn’t where he’d wanted to end up.
Sean shifted his bag so he could see what she’d tossed onto the bed. It was the small diamond ring he’d put on her finger a month ago when he asked her to marry him and, as the sun hit the stone, it winked at him. Feeling nothing but hollow, he closed his fingers around it, squeezing it in his fist. Then he tucked it into the front pocket of his jeans and took a deep breath.
It was best for both of them if he shut Emma out and walked away. But first he had to get through a moment he’d been dreading.
Cat was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs. Emma was next to her, but she wouldn’t even look at him. He could tell by the way her jaw was set he’d pissed her off.
“I’ll wait in the truck,” she said, and then she seemed to collect herself. She turned to face him and stuck out her hand. “Thanks, Sean.”