Emergency Ex by Mardi Ballou

“Wow, Brenda.”
    Exerting all her strength, she pushed away from him. The moment to start with the new Brenda was now. No sense dragging her feet. Though she felt so shaky she feared her legs might not carry her, she stood. One step at a time.
    Brow furrowed, he reached out. “Brenda? Where you goin’?”
    As if he cared. Well, he probably cared a bit. Enough to want to keep her safe from any baddies prowling the streets at night. Luckily, she could take care of herself. “Home. Got an early morning tomorrow.”
    He sat up. “You sure you have to go? I figured we’d have the night together.” He grinned at that prospect, and a twinge of longing went through her. A girl could get used to overwhelming pleasure, if she let herself. The key was not to let herself or she’d be too vulnerable.
    “Won’t work for me.”
    “You sure? I thought we’d go out for an amazing breakfast, spend the morning together. The whole day. See, I didn’t forget. Plus I have a surprise I can’t wait to give you.”
    “I’ve made other plans. You can give me the surprise now.”
    “No, it’s for tomorrow. Come on. At least stay for the morning. Tomorrow’s Saturday. What do you have that’s so all fired important that you’ll need to get an early start?”
    I can be as generic as anyone. “I’ve got plans.”
    “Something you can’t put off? Something better than mimosas and French toast and a surprise?”
    He knew breakfast was her favorite meal. But what he was coming up with for her birthday was unplanned and effortless, although he kept mentioning a surprise. Over the years, when he’d given her surprises, they were usually bad. Seeing Taylor when she got her tonight was another awful surprise. He’d probably put some effort into making the one he was trying to entice her with a good one. If he gave it to her tonight, she’d accept. Otherwise, she was sticking to her plan even though it meant giving up her chance to find out what his surprise was. She’d had it with settling for scraps.
    “Have a good breakfast. I meant what I said. It won’t be with me.” She tried to remain dignified as she spoke, not an easy task in the midst of scooping up her clothes.
    He got out of bed and put a hand on her arm. “Brenda, your voice sounds funny.”
    Well, damn. She didn’t seem to be doing as good a job as she’d hoped of acting cool, calm and collected. “I really need to get dressed and go home. It’s late.”
    “You didn’t answer my question.”
    “You didn’t ask one.”
    “Yeah, I did, at least by implication. That’s one of the things I count on with you, that I don’t have to put everything in words, that you’ll understand what I mean.” He started to cover his gorgeous nakedness with jeans.
    “This time is different. I need you to put whatever you mean into words. My Keith Radar or whatever you think I have isn’t operational.” This conversation would work better if she had on more than her La Perla underwear. She should dress first, say goodbye and go.
    “Okay. You seem very cold and distant even though we just made love and I asked you to stay the night and go out with me for breakfast. Not to mention my surprise. Something’s wrong, isn’t it?”
    “Yes.” She could hardly get the word out.
    He sucked in a breath and came over to her. “Tell me. I want to make it up to you.”
    She moved away from him and continued throwing on her clothes. “Keith, trust me on this. It’s really for the best that I go home. That’s all I want. Nothing more to say.” Abundant tears threatened to spill. She wouldn’t let them.
    Looking puzzled, he backed away to give her the space to get dressed, which she did as quickly as her hands would move. Then it was time. Her last moment ever with Keith.
    “How about a kiss good night?” he asked as she headed to the door.
    Sure. Why not. One for the long, winding road ahead. She tilted her face upward. He took her in his arms for a deep, romantic kiss, made