her that day at his parents’ home. Hadn’t they held each other, shared each other’s pain? Hadn’t they stayed up talking and kissing for hours like lovers do? And hadn’t they promised to get to know each other better?
Yes, they had. And now she wanted to flip the script like none of it ever happened. Now she wanted to push him out of her life before he could even get his foot in good.
She had just made it to the top of the stairs leading down to the platform when a steel vise griped her upper arm.
“Ow!” she cried out.
Ignoring her protest of pain, he laid into Roxy… real good. If he had been yelling and screaming, maybe that would have been better. But the low key, cool, ominous tone of his voice had her trembling.
“You know what, Roxanna? You can keep your little nasty attitude to yourself because I don’t need it, nor do I want it. I thought you were a woman and not a little girl masquerading as one. You need to check yourself.”
Releasing his grip on her, he took a step back and stared at her. If the look had been a scathing one, she could have handled it. Instead it was one mingled in hurt, anger and pain. And it nearly killed her. Oh my God… what have I done?
“My biggest mistake was thinking you were worth my time.” And perhaps my love one day , he had wanted to say, but decided telling her such a thing would make him too vulnerable in her eyes. And that’s not what he needed right now. He needed to hold on to the anger he was feeling to keep her at a distance. If she didn’t want any parts of him, then he would grant her wish.
Without saying another word, Adam turned and left her standing there.
Numbly Roxy made her way down the stairs and sat on the metal bench. Her train had long gone. For the next thirty minutes until the train arrived she sat there feeling sick, her stomach a churning mess.
What have I done?
Chapter 16
The work week seemed to inch by at a snail’s pace. This only dragged out Roxy’s state of misery. She had tried calling Adam on his cell and home phone numbers. He hadn’t responded to either.
Burying herself in work nose-deep hadn’t helped. Thoughts of Adam and how she had treated him wasn’t leaving her alone. His words taunted her at every turn. “My biggest mistake was thinking you were worth my time.”
She swallowed the large lump in her throat threatening to cut off her air supply. He had thought she was worth his time. And she had to go and blow it by acting like a brat. Why didn’t she just let him talk to her like he tried to do? Why did she have to be so stubborn and not hear him out?
“You know, you should just go see him.” Sonia whispered as she leaned her hip against Roxy’s desk.
Smiling up at her office mate, her lips trembled. She had shared with her work buddies what had happened between her and Adam. They had been really supportive and backed off with the playful teasing.
“I’m scared he might not see me. He won’t even return my calls.”
That annoying lump moved from her throat to her chest. She had hurt him by pushing him away and lashing out at him, which she hadn’t meant to do.
“Thank you,” Roxy whispered when Sonia passed her a tissue to wipe the tears that had begun to fall.
“You’re welcome, kiddo.” Standing up, Sonia reassured her, “It’s all going to work out.”
Going over to her desk, Sonia picked up a stack of envelopes. Figuring Roxy needed time alone, she threw over her shoulder on her way out of the tiny office they shared, “Be back in a little bit. I have to take these down to the mailroom.”
There was more to Roxy’s story, but she didn’t push. If one thing she learned about her new friend, she was very guarded. She just hoped whatever else was troubling her would soon be resolved.
Roxy let out a sigh of relief after Sonia left. She hated getting all emotional in front of others. But what could she do? Especially when she felt like she may have lost a friend. The only other time
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