Free Sharing Space (The Complete Series) by Nina Perez Page A

explain how it happened. We ran into each other and she started calling. Things didn’t end right with us and we had all of this unfinished business—”
     
    I snorted and rolled my eyes. “Apparently.”
     
    “I didn’t mean like that. We just… we had a lot to talk about and one thing led to another. I never wanted to hurt you and I know it was wrong. That’s why I’ve been trying so hard to get to you. I wanted to apologize the right way.”
     
    He reached out to take my hand and I tried to pull it away, but his grip was strong. He rubbed my hand with both of his. “Chloe, I love you. I messed up. Big time. Huge. The biggest mistake I’ve ever made, and all I want is a chance to make it right. One chance. You love me. I know you do. You can’t just turn your feelings off like that.”
     
    I closed my eyes and allowed him to continue to hold my hand. “Maybe I did love you.” I pulled my hand away, opened my eyes, and took a step back. “But things are different now.”
     
    Lawrence also took a step back and his pleading, remorseful face suddenly turned angry. “Why? Because ol’ dude moved in?”
     
    “What? No. No. This has nothing to do with Patrick and everything to do with you tainting what we had. I gave you everything. I was never anything but honest with you. I supported you, and that wasn’t enough. You took all I had to offer and you spat on it. You tell me, how do we fix that?”
     
    “I don’t know, but you owe it to us to try.”
     
    “I don’t owe you anything. You need to go.”
     
    He reached out for me again but before I could insist that he leave, Patrick’s voice drew our attention.
     
    “Five minutes are up.”
     
    Lawrence looked from me to Patrick and back again.
     
    “Look, dude, this has nothing to do with you—”
     
    “Maybe not,” I interrupted. “But he’s right. Your time is up.”
     
    For a moment I watched the internal struggle play across Lawrence’s face. I knew I was essentially cutting him off at the knees, punking him if you will, in front of Patrick; however, I didn’t really care. Lawrence shook his head and walked to the door. Turning before he left he said to me, “We’re not done.” I sat on the sofa suddenly feeling sick to my stomach.
     
    “Are things always this exciting around here?”
     
    Patrick sat on the arm of the sofa. I looked up at him and felt awful. “Patrick, I’m so sorry about that. He shouldn’t have spoken to you that way, and then I used you to make him upset because—”
     
    “He deserved it? He’s an ass? Just stop me when I get one wrong.”
     
    “We were a couple up until about a week ago. I caught him with another woman at his apartment.”
     
    “So I was right?”
     
    I raised an eyebrow.
     
    “He is an ass.” 
     
    ***
     
     
    Since coming back from Chicago, Lila had been in rare form. We were trying to land three new accounts that would bring in serious revenue for B&L. As a consequence, I spent long days at the office. I didn’t mind because it kept my mind off Lawrence, who had been calling and even stopped by the agency. I had the receptionist tell him I was in a meeting.
     
    I was afraid if I allowed myself to slow down long enough to hear what he had to say, I'd fall for it out of loneliness more than anything else. I knew he was no good, but it was hard going from eight months of having someone to suddenly having no one. I was starting to miss him.  Not him specifically, but all that he represented: companionship and affection. It would be too easy to pretend that everything would be okay, just to allow him back into my bed long enough to fill the emptiness. That was something weak women did and I didn't fancy myself a weak woman. 
     
    I’d gladly put in the long hours if it also meant securing that promotion. I’d taken my entry-level position to pay my dues, and I was ready to collect something in return. I knew I was at the top of a very short list, and I appreciated every