Friday (Timeless Series #5) Read Free Page A

kept my voice steady.
    He didn’t ask what kind of plans I had. “I’m sorry about the way I left…it was wrong.”
    It was completely wrong.
    “I panicked and didn’t think. I just ran. It wasn’t fair to you.”
    No, it wasn’t.
    “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I wasn’t ready to hear those words, and when I did I didn’t handle it well.”
    “It’s okay, Axel. It seems like a lifetime ago now.” I kept my cool but died inside. I already told him I loved him so I wasn’t sure how well I could play this off. Could I really convince him of indifference if I just told him I loved him two weeks ago?
    “I feel like shit.” His voice cracked, like he meant every word. “I loved being in this relationship and I really care about you but…I don’t feel the same way.”
    Ouch.
    Unbearable pain.
    It hurts.
    Make it stop.
    “And I’ll never feel the same way,” he continued. “I just…I’m not that kind of person. After what happened with my parents and Francesca I just can’t be that kind of man. I don’t see myself ever getting married or having kids. I never expected you to fall in love with me so it was okay at the time, but now that I know you feel this way I can’t be here anymore.”
    His idiotic belief that there was something wrong with him was stupid. He was perfectly capable of being a great man. He had the potential to love endlessly. He looked after Francesca like a father. All these insecurities and doubts were stupid but I didn’t waste my time telling him otherwise. He already made up his mind. “That’s fine, Axel.” I knew the second I walked into my bedroom I would burst into uncontrollable tears. But for now, I remained strong. “I get it.”
    “I’m sorry…for everything.”
    “It’s okay. Life goes on.” All I could do was be cold to him, just the way he was cold to me when he walked out of my bedroom. There was so much more I wanted to say, to tell him he let me down and broke my heart. I didn’t trust him in the beginning because he seemed superficial and dangerous. That instinct turned out to be right. But he wasn’t worth my time, and it would just make me seem bitter and angry.
    He stared at me like he didn’t know what else to say. He clearly expected this conversation to go differently, for me to have a more profound reaction.
    Hell no.
    I eyed the time on my phone. “I really need to shower and get ready. I’ll see you around.” I turned and walked down the path that led to the front door. As soon as I got inside I could fall apart and give into my grief. I just had a few more steps.
    “Marie?”
    I stopped and took a deep breath before I turned around. “What?” My voice stayed strong but it wouldn’t last much longer.
    “I really wish things were different…” He took a deep breath as he stared at me. Then without saying goodbye he got back into his truck and started the engine.
    I walked inside the house and shut the door behind me as casually as possible, trying to make it seem like his presence and absence didn’t affect me in the least. But as soon as the door was closed my bottom lip quivered and my eyes welled up with tears.
    I darted into my room and shut the door, wanting to be alone with my own devastation. I hadn’t given him the opportunity to see how much he hurt me, but now I got little satisfaction out of that. All I wanted to do was go to sleep and never wake up again. With my hands to my face, I sobbed. The tears dripped down my hands and forearms, and somehow I felt worse for getting so emotional.
    A pair of warm arms wrapped around me, and Francesca’s scent came into my nose. She guided my head into my lap where she stroked my hair and allowed me to cry. She hushed me and rubbed my back, doing everything she could to make me feel better. “Marie, I’m sorry…”
    I tried to stop crying but I couldn’t.
    “You deserve better. And you’ll find him someday.”
    I sniffed and stopped the tears for only an instant. “Would I be