Bachelor Swap, Lacey Black [best short novels txt] 📗

“You used me,” she whispers, the tears forming in her eyes once more as she stares at Matthew.

He doesn’t reply.

“I need to get out of here,” she demands, swiping at a tear angrily.

“I’ll take you home,” I quickly insist, taking a step toward her.

My words are cut off by her hands held up, halting my steps. “No. You’re not welcome.”

I want to argue, to insist we go back to her place to talk, but she doesn’t give me the opportunity.

Kyla stops directly in front of me and meets my gaze. “You lied to me. From the very beginning, you lied.” Her eyes brim with tears once more. “It hurts, knowing I was a pawn in your brother’s quest to get his hands on my father’s business, but do you know what hurts more than that?”

I don’t think I want to know.

“Your betrayal hurts most of all,” she whispers, the tears spilling from her gorgeous eyes once more as she chokes up. “It hurts because you knew the truth and never said a word. You allowed me to fall in love with you, which I guess was my mistake. I fell in love with someone who doesn’t exist.”

She turns to her dad, not allowing me to get a single word in. And what would I say anyway? Sorry seems like such a pointless, useless word at this point. “I’m going to head out. Can you make an excuse with Edith, please? Tell her I’m sick,” she asks her father, wiping away tears and steeling her back.

“I will, but you’re going with me. I’ll have my car brought around,” he replies, taking her hand and leading her away.

“Kyla,” I blurt out, not wanting to see her walk away, realizing if she does, it’ll be forever. “Please.”

She stops but doesn’t turn around, at least not right away. After a few very long seconds, she glances over her shoulder. Her eyes are firm and hold a resolve I wasn’t prepared to see, because it means whatever I’m about to say won’t mean a damn thing. Not anymore. The damage is done.

“Goodbye, Mason. I wish you luck with your ranch.”

Kyla turns around and walks away, taking my heart with her. She reaches the end of the corridor and rounds the corner without so much as a glance back. Pain radiates through my entire body, my soul crushed into a thousand pieces.

But it’s my fault.

I did this.

To her.

And to me.

I have no idea how long I stand there, staring off at the last place I saw the woman I’ve fallen in love with, willing her to come back so we can talk about this. Yet, knowing in my heart it’s over. There’s no coming back from this, even though the will and drive is there. I lied to her, plain and simple. This is exactly what I was afraid would happen, and maybe even, deep down, knew would happen all along. Maybe if I’d had told her sooner things would be different now. But fear is a powerful thing. It keeps you from doing what’s right, even when you know in your heart you should.

I knew, but I didn’t act.

That’s on me.

I’ll have to live with that pain and the hurt my actions caused for the rest of my life.

At least I’ll be able to wallow in my misery alone.

“Why’d you do it?” I find myself asking the only man still standing in the hallway.

Matthew sighs. “I needed the potential insurance to make sure the deal went through.”

Sighing, I lean against the wall and close my eyes, my body suddenly extremely drained.

“Well, let’s take a moment to give thanks that an intent to sell contract was drafted and signed. Otherwise, I’d be a little worried about the sale not going through on Monday,” my twin says, pulling me out of my own head.

I stand tall and turn to face him. We look the same, only a few minor differences that most wouldn’t even notice. But I notice. I see them all. “I don’t even know you anymore. A man who became so consumed with business and less about individuals. You’ve hurt people, Matthew, and don’t even seem to care. I can’t live like that. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the last few weeks, it’s that I’d rather have friendships and laughter surrounding me. Money is nice, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t keep you warm at night. Love does. You’ll never understand, and that makes me sad for you.”

I walk past him, heading for the exit.

“Mason,” he says, his words causing my legs to stop. “You and I, we’re just built differently. Always have been.”

I turn to face my brother. “Maybe, but we don’t have to be. We choose the roads we’re on, Matthew. If we wanted to have a better relationship, we could, despite our differences. Believe it or not, even after knowing what I know now, after seeing you in action, I miss my brother. Maybe it’s just a pipe dream or wishful thinking, but I miss him. The boy I grew up with, played with, and dreamed with about what our lives would be like as adults. I never thought there would be a divide. For all the things that make us unalike, I never saw us this far off course.”

I take a deep breath, wondering where all that came from. But do you know what? I don’t care. I said what’s been building for years and have no regrets now.

He stands still, his matching brown eyes boring into me.

“You know where I live, Matthew. Take a few days off every now and again and visit. If you want, I’ll do the same.” I head the rest of the way down the hall, ready to turn the corner when I add, “Oh, and go visit our parents.”

Then I leave. I walk straight out of the hotel and down the block. With my hands shoved into my pockets, I ignore the way my feet hurt