Then Ava’s voice. If I were placing bets, I’d say it’s already over.
I pull in a breath. “Tony will arrange for your transport. You can go any time you want.
She steps back and her hands drop from my shoulders. “Landon—”
“No.” I cup her face in my hands and smile down at her. My face feels tight with the effort. “Whatever it is you’re looking for, Rachel, I hope you fucking find it.”
The rest of the evening passes in a blur. I don’t register anything else that happens.
We don’t work. We just don’t work.
Well, fine.
I will not keep chasing a dream that doesn’t belong to me.
Ava pulls me to the dance floor, and I can barely he
ar what she says while we dance. All I know is that Rachel is leaving, and I’m not good enough for her.
Chapter 28
I know exactly when Rachel leaves the room. I feel the emptiness inside me intensify until it’s unbearable.
I won’t go after her.
“Where’s your mind?” Ava teases. She stops a passing nymph with a champagne tray. “Here, have a drink.”
I wave the waiter away. “I’m fine.”
“Lovers’ quarrel?”
“Mind your business.”
“You are my business.”
I stop moving. “Ava, I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but you have to know there’s no point to this…whatever it is you’re doing.”
She pouts. “Next you’ll be telling me you’re in love.”
I freeze at the word. She’s watching me, smiling, waiting for a reply. Without saying anything else, I leave her on the dance floor and stalk out of the room. The party is still ongoing, but I don’t care. I go up to my suite and find Rachel in a robe, her face scrubbed clean of makeup. Her suitcase lies open on the bed.
Seeing for myself that she’s serious about leaving causes another wave of pain.
“You’re actually leaving.” I feel stupid for stating the obvious. Only she would make me feel like a fool.
She sighs. “Yes.”
I won’t beg. “When do you want to go? Tonight? Have you called Tony?”
She shakes her head.
“I’ll let him know you want to leave. He’ll have a plane waiting for you for whenever you’re ready.”
She doesn’t reply.
I’m trying my best not to feel anything, but I’m dying inside. “Do you want me to go? I can arrange for another suite if you’d rather not have me around.”
She shakes her head again. “No…don’t. You don’t have to go.”