My Love Forgive by Anna Antonia Page A

more than busy enough to have me over.”
    “Yes, but I wanted to spend my time with you.”
    “And Gretchen wanted to spend her time with you. Stereotypical triangle, right?”
    I smiled. My fingers tingled with the inappropriate urge to pull her into me. “There can only be a triangle if the top vertex cannot decide between the bottom vertices. We are definitely a line segment, Risa.”
    “So you say now, Damian.”
    “So I say always.” I took in her black jacket with matching chemise. “You look very pretty today.” My change of direction flustered her. Pleased as I was, I barely resisted the urge to tap her ensuing frown away.
    “Thank you.”
    “Do you notice anything similar between us?”
    Risa’s dark eyes darted from my chest, up, down, and then back again. “You’re wearing all black today too.”
    “Yes. Do you know why?” I waited until she shook her head. “Probably for the same reason you did.”
    “Which is?”
    “I was very angry at the thought that today would be the day we’d stop seeing one another.”
    Risa’s full mouth shriveled into a tight, crimson pucker. “I’m not the one who’s still attached.”
    “Neither am I.”
    She crossed small arms across her chest. I watched in displeasure when she twisted her upper half away from me.
    “Ask me, Risa.”
    “Ask you what?”
    “Ask me why Gretchen was at my door.”
    “I don’t really care.” Neither of us believed her. Risa tried again. “I mean, I do, but it’s really none of my business.”
    “True. It is none of your business but I want to tell you anyway. So ask me.”
    Risa dipped her head and grudgingly obeyed. “Why was she there last night?”
    She reminded me of a rabbit—cautious, worried, adorable, and above all, curious. I wanted to pet, cuddle, and devour her—not necessarily in the same order.
    I’m going to so enjoy having you beneath me. I wonder if I’ll have to put pillows beneath your knees when you suck my cock because you’re so short.
    “Gretchen was lost. She knows differently now and she won’t ever intrude on us again.”
    “That’s a strange way to put it.”
    “Yes, but it doesn’t make it any less true.”
    Risa looked up at me. Her eyes betrayed a terrible darkness inside. “She’s your ex-girlfriend?”
    “Yes. A little closer than that actually.”
    “Oh.”
    Sadness seeped into her posture. She reminded me of a crumpled origami flower—beautifully unnatural and all the more fragile because of it.
    “I’m sorry to hear that, Damian.”
    That’s the first honest thing you’ve said to me and I bet you don’t even know what you really mean.
    “Thank you.”
    “Was it a difficult breakup?”
    “Yes.”
    “I’ve never dated anyone for a long enough time to get too attached. I can’t imagine what it must be like to have to end such a serious relationship.”
    “Risa, I’m telling you this for a reason beyond sympathy and condolences. My relationship with Gretchen has been over for three months. Last night was the first night I’d seen her since we terminated our contact.”
    “Really? I think that’s rather cruel.”
    “You do?”
    “Yes.” She gave a quick sigh before she turned to face me fully. “Gretchen obviously still loves you very much. To have just ended things with her and then not seen her during all this time is hurtful.”
    “You’re very noble to care about another woman.”
    “I’m not trying to be.”
    “Yes, but you are all the same.”
    “Thanks. I think.”
    “Will you see me tonight?”
    She pursed her mouth again. “I don’t know.”
    “I promise you last night won’t happen again. I want to see you again. Say yes.”
    “Damian—”
    “Say yes or I won’t unlock the door.”
    “You’re kidding.”
    “Try me.”
     

24

    Her endearing grin proved she didn’t believe in how serious I actually was. She probably thought I was teasing. I did a lot of that with her.
    It was easy. It was fun. It was different for a man like me. I