I felt the tears rolling down my face and got angry at myself. He certainly wasn’t shedding any tears over me, so why was I lying here crying like a baby? I got up and dressed in some comfortable clothes before hauling the suitcase down the stairs. I looked down at the bracelet on my arm and ran my finger over the engraved letters. AB + BA

I allowed myself one more moment to look around at what was briefly our home as I unclasped the bracelet and laid it on the counter beside his phone, my eyes dry as I left his apartment.

49. Axel

Axel

I staggered out of the hospital feeling like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders, but there was still that lead weight in my belly as I thought of Blaire. I needed to apologize, grovel if necessary, and work my ass off to be the best damned boyfriend in the history of the world.

I caught a cab back to the Ritz and took the elevator up to our suite. “Baby? I’m back,” I called, but I found the room empty. Even our overnight bag was gone. Shit. Where was she? Did you really expect her to stay here and wait for you, dumbass?

She probably went back to the apartment to get some sleep before work tomorrow. Our beautiful night together had started out so well, and then it all went to shit. And why? Because I had gotten involved with a master manipulator. And because I was a stupid, stupid man. Milan had played me like a fiddle, and I had allowed it to happen. Blaire had tried to warn me, and I had lashed out at her.

Maybe you should call her brothers and let them come over and kick your ass. Yeah, that might not be a bad idea. An ass kicking from them would still be less than what I deserved.

I got my car from the valet and headed back to the apartment. On the drive, I tried to think of how I could make this better. Milan being out of our lives was a damn good start, but that didn’t fix the other problems I had caused. Had I really likened Blaire to my father? Jesus, what the fuck was I thinking? He was a weak, hateful man, the exact opposite of Blaire. She was sweet and strong and everything that was good about my life.