by Harlow Layne
“What?!” I nearly shrieked. “How did you forget that he’s married to Anna? Did you think he cheated? That I would do that?”
“No, no! It was stupid, I know. Like I said, it was a momentary lapse in thinking.” Taking my hand in his large one, he started to rub his thumb nervously over the back of my hand. “Fuck, Alex, don’t be mad at me. Please.” His eyes deepened into a dark storm, begging for me to let this go.
“Tell me why you didn’t relax when he continued on. Why did you sit there like that the entire time, making me wonder what the hell was going on with you?”
“Because I’m human and stupid,” he answered back, looking sadder by the second. “I didn’t know what he was going to say, but I didn’t want to influence your decision, so I stayed quiet.”
“You didn’t want to influence my decision? Do you know what one of the first things I thought of was when Colt was telling me about the house?”
Eyes on me, they never wavered. “No.”
“It was that I wanted to talk to you and see what you thought because for some crazy reason, I thought if you were going to be in my life that I should discuss things of that magnitude with you. Obviously, I was wrong. I at least wanted to talk it out with you and get your advice.”
Resting his elbows on his knees, Luke kept hold of my hand, while leaning forward and bowing his head until it was almost between his knees.
“I’m sorry I fucked up. It never crossed my mind that you’d done something with him. It was…” he took a deep breath and lifted his head until we were eye to eye. “I thought maybe he tried to hit on you or something of that nature. It was an irrational thought, and I was jealous. I’m not normally a jealous man and I hate that I was in that moment. It seems we bring it out in each other.”
“I… I don’t even know what to say. Do you trust me? That I would never cheat? Or be a part of someone else’s cheating?” I tried to pull my hand away but Luke only held tighter, until he saw the hurt etched on my face.
“I don’t know how to make this right. I wish I could go back in time and not have that reaction. Please, tell me what I can do.” His eyes begged.
I had no idea what he could do to make this better so instead of answering him we sat in silence.
“I can’t fucking believe this,” Luke murmured. I wasn’t sure if he meant for me to hear him, but I had.
“What is it?” I asked wanting to run back into our room so that I could be alone and think.
“Five minutes ago, you were crying because you loved me and now you don’t even want to be in the same space as I am.”
“I still love you, Luke. That hasn’t changed.”
“But something has?” The lost look in his eyes made me want to cry and hug him to me, but I needed time to cool off, so I didn’t do or say something we’d both regret.
“Only the fact that I was bursting with love a few minutes ago and now I’m upset. I need some time to cool off.” I held my hand up in a stop motion at the look on Luke’s face. He wanted to say something or talk it out right now. Either way, I needed to wait. “Please give me some time.”
“I don’t have much of a choice.” His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “I’ll be here when you're ready to talk. I’m sorry, Alex.”
“I know. I’m sorry, too. I’m going to go down with the girls and chill out while I think. You don’t have to stay up here. You could hang out with Colt.”
“Maybe later, but right now, I wouldn’t be very good company.” He sat looking up at me with his eyes glistening. It took everything in me not to curl up in his lap and try to make him feel better.
Halfway down to the beach I looked back to see Luke still sitting where I left him. Instead of looking gorgeous and sexy with his skin bronzed from the sun, his chest bear with his swim trunks riding low on his hips, I could only think about how sad he looked. Even from afar, I could see that he was miserable.
How was I going to fix this?
Want to know what happens next with Alex and Luke?
Continue with HOLLYWOOD FAIRYTALE coming Oct. 18, 2018, where I promised a happily ever after.
Click here for more details.
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Acknowledgments
To my husband and sons who gave up their time with me so that I could accomplish my dream. You mean the world to me.
To my girls- Cris, Heather, and Michele. You were my first true tribe and I’ll love you girls forever.
My KB 101 Tribe - Alyne, Molly, Kelsey, Kara, Syd, Jessa, Grahame, Catherine, Emma, Tracy, Richelle and Clare- fate brought us together to make a wonderful group. From day one, we instantly clicked. Thank you for all your support with answering all my questions and listening to my problems.
I learned so much while writing this book from all the wonderful people in Alessandra Torre’s Inkers group. Thank you Alessandra for starting the group, and being such an amazing champion to all writers out there.
Thank you to everyone else who shared and helped me through this amazing journey.
And to you the reader for taking a chance on a new author.
About Harlow
Harlow Layne is an emerging author of small-town and Hollywood romance. This is Harlow’s first book.
Harlow wrote fanfiction for years before she decided to write Luke and Alex’s story that had been swimming in her head for years.
When Harlow’s not writing you’ll find her online shopping on Amazon, Facebook, or Instagram or hanging out with her family and two dogs.
Also by Harlow Layne
Fairlane Series
With Love, Alex
Hollywood Fairytale - (October 18, 2018)
Unsteady in Love (Holden and Prue’s story) Date to be announced.
https://www.harlowlayne.com
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