The Scheme

If we ended up together, I’d still see Brian as the man, the one who got away. Because Brian owned my heart. There was no way anyone else could have me, because he owned me, had captured my heart in a matter of weeks.

I came to the realization there was reality and there was fantasy. And wanting a life with Dr. Hot Pants—though I didn’t think he was so hot, now that I was getting to know him—had been a total fantasy. I’d become so obsessed with the psychic’s predictions that I’d been blind to the truth.

And the truth was that I was madly and undeniably in love with someone else—Brian.

I scrunched my eyebrows together and tilted my head, wondering why on earth I’d ever thought I could feel anything for James. I needed to learn from my past, know that I would never let someone else control my life. I needed to live in the present and face my feelings.

As a plan formulated in my mind, a foreign sensation surfaced—hope. I found I suddenly had hope for the future, real promise for the first time in a very long time.

I only hoped that future included Brian.

***

At the end of di

“Are you sure you don’t want to stop by my place for late-night drinks?” His face turned hopeful as he displayed a cheesy grin.

“Yeah, I’m sorry. It’s been a long day,” I replied politely, though inside I was screaming for freedom from this date so I could forge ahead with my plan.

His face turned sour, but he nodded.

I told him I would take a cab home, making an excuse about being really tired, though I was anything but. My insides were itching to get to the man I was in love with.

James reached for a hug, and I complied. I was glad he didn’t try for a goodnight kiss because I would’ve turned around, and the rejection wouldn’t have been cute.

“I had a great night, Kendall.”

“Me too.” Though James wasn’t the guy for me, I wished him the best.

After our weak embrace, we parted ways, and then I glanced at my watch, the dial almost as large as my fist.

Shit. It was ten-thirty. Was it too late to stop by?

Who cares?

The adrenaline spike had me hopping on my toes.

I knew where I needed to be, so I didn’t hesitate. I lifted my hand as I waited for a cab, restless and eager. In the back of my mind, fear tried to grab me again, but I shoved it away. I couldn’t let fear control me any longer. I’d made the biggest mistake by letting Brian walk away, and I prayed it was not too late to fix it.

***

The cab stopped in front of his condo, and my insides surged with energy. An insane grin was fixated on my face as my heart raced in my chest, knowing he was so close and within my reach.

I repeated what I was going to say in my head. I intended to apologize, tell him I had made a mistake, the biggest mistake of my life. I would tell him I regretted everything I had said a couple days ago, and then confess I loved him over and over.

I pictured the scene unfolding like in the movies—me crying, him holding me, us kissing, and then us finally together as a couple, proclaiming our love for each other.

I pressed the up button on the elevator, and I wrung my hands, my heart pitter-pattering so hard in my chest I was worried it would explode. An urge to flee washed over me. It was the same fear I was so familiar with, trying to terrorize me and alter my decision, but I closed my eyes and inhaled a long, calming breath to push all negative thoughts out of my head as the door pinged open.

When I stepped onto his floor, I heard boisterous laughter coming from down the hall. When I turned the corner, I staggered to a halt. Peeking over, I saw Brian and Trey, his roommate, as well as two strange girls congregated in front of the boys’ door. There was a blonde hanging all over Brian, and I bit back the bile that crept up my throat. I didn’t understand why she was literally hanging on him, when he already looked unsteady. Trey was equally preoccupied with the model-looking brunette blatantly making out with him.

Brian struggled to keep upright, using the frame of the door to keep himself from toppling over.

Was he drunk?

Yes. After a few seconds of watching him, I could clearly see he and Trey were both very much intoxicated, as were their female companions. Where had these girls come from? And how much had Brian had to drink? He couldn’t even keep his head up.

The long-legged woman with the shortest skirt pressed herself against Brian’s body and kissed his neck. I flinched, as though I’d been hit, a heavy nausea hitting my stomach.

Brian laughed at something she said, and I straightened, ready to stake my claim on him because he belonged to me.

I stepped out from my hiding spot, but they didn’t see me as I approached. I narrowed my eyes at the witch as her hands moved up and down the front of Brian’s shirt. He was so wasted he probably wouldn’t remember her name in the morning. When she went up on tiptoes to kiss him, I’d had enough.

“Brian,” I said, stalking toward them.

The expression on his face flipped like a deck of cards—surprise, adoration, and then he hardened and went back to ignoring me.

My stomach dropped to the floor, disappointment flooding my insides. Had I expected anything less? I’d been a total bitch and broken his heart, chewed it up, and spit it out. I didn’t deserve to be in his presence, yet here I was.

The blonde eyed me, but she looked away when Brian gave his attention back to her.

Trey immediately disentangled himself from his girl and advanced toward me. “Get out,” he commanded.

I clenched my teeth, ignored Trey, and focused on Brian. “We need to talk.” I gave the girl a back away look, but she rolled her eyes and just inched closer to Brian’s side, ru

I gave her a onceover. She looked weak, too thin, but flaunting it with her little-to-nothing clothing as though thin was in. I could totally take her and her ski

I came closer, now only a few feet between us. I needed to work for this, and begging was not out of the question. I would fight for him because I was the reason we weren’t together. It was my fault. “Please,” I said, begging him with my eyes.

His jaw tightened. His eyes were dilated, which told me he’d had too much to drink, but he didn’t look away, which gave me a tiny tinge of hope.

My voice quivered as I spoke. “I’m sorry,” I said, laying a hand on my racing heart. I didn’t care I was allowing them all to see my vulnerability. I didn’t care that I looked like a total dumbass. I focused all my attention on him.

“I’m so, so sorry. I just want to talk.” I was on the verge of tears. I knew I’d hurt him, and I’d do anything to make it right, to make us right again.

I took a deep breath and just said the words, the ones I should’ve said the other day, but was too chickenshit and stuck on that last damn prediction to do it. “I love . . . I love you.” It wasn’t the ideal place to tell him, but he needed to know. And I wasn’t ashamed to say it because it was the absolute truth.

For a brief moment, he saw me, and I soaked it in, giving myself hope. But then Trey stepped between us.

He glared at me with burning eyes as his temper flared. “What is your fucking problem? He’s had a taste of you; now he’s ready to move the fuck on to Brandy over here.” He nodded to the blonde still pawing my man.

“Brenda,” the blonde corrected him.

“Yeah, whatever,” Trey muttered with a wave of his hand. “How was your date with the doctor dude? He didn’t fulfill your dreams, so you’re back here for a real man?”

“That’s not it,” I insisted, peering over Trey’s shoulder to get a glimpse of Brian, but Trey moved to block my view. “Have you ever wished something to be true so badly that you couldn’t see anything else? I made a mistake,” I confessed, my insides breaking. I needed him to believe me and realize how much I regretted ever turning him away.