Page 42 of It Must Be Love

What did he want me to say? Not the truth, not when he looked like I'd kicked his puppy.

"I'll let him know that it has nothing to do with you. I would never speak badly about you," I promised.

He sighed. "I know, Naya. You're the loyal type, aren't you?"

Yeah, loyal like a doormat. You can keep wiping your feet on me, and I'll be there for you 24/7, 365 days a year.

"Ann mentioned you're all off to Switzerland. I hope you'll have a wonderful Christmas there."

He picked up my resignation letter and looked at it but didn't unfold it. "Would you like to join us? My parents are chartering a flight. We'll have room. The chalet is huge."

I gaped at him and then shut my mouth, so I didn't look like an idiot. "That's a kind offer. I'm spending Christmas here."

"Back to the women's shelter?" he asked, and there was some iron in his voice that I didn't like. He seemed angry, and I couldn't fathom why.

"Yes and I'll be with Darren. He spends Christmas with some of his old teammates who also don't have family nearby. We have a good time."

"Hanging out with pro ball players is probably a whole lot more fun than your brother's asshole friends."

Now, his tone was belligerent.

"Please don't put words in my mouth." I looked down now, back to the floor, feeling conscious and uncomfortable. I hated confrontations.

"Merry Christmas, Naya. Will I see you again?"

"Ah…for a week in January so I can do project handovers."

"When do you start at InnoWare?"

"Ah—"

"Can you, for the love of everything holy, look at me when you talk to me?" he yelled.

My eyes snapped up at him. There was barely controlled fury on his face. "Why are you so angry with me?" I asked.

"Because you're leaving me."

"I'm leaving Midas. Employees leave all the time."

He looked away and sighed. "I wish you all the best. Please close the door on your way out."

I was by his door when I heard him say, "I thought you'd stay. I was sure you'd stay."

I kept my back to him. "Why did you think that?"

"I didn't think you'd be able to stand the thought of leaving me."

I hadn't thought so either. "I'm full of surprises," I murmured and walked out.

Chapter 16

Amias

Ann stared at me, her eyes wide. Disbelief written all over her face.

I'd asked to meet at her place in Cambridge so that I could leave after the drama of the breakup was over. The last time we'd broken up had been at my place, and it had taken all night to get her out, and she'd spent the night calling me names until I'd walked out. She'd still been there in the morning when she apologized and left, telling me I'd regret breaking up with her.

I was expecting something similar this time.