Another wave of nausea slams into me, and sweat breaks out on my forehead. I close my eyes and focus on my breathing. In and out. In and out. “George and I have been . . .” God. I cannot say it. I can’t be the reason this family falls apart. Can’t be the reason this woman loses her husband or their child loses her father.

Too late for that, Shay.

She holds up a hand. “Before you do this, I want you to ask yourself if you really want to be the kind of woman who lies and manipulates to steal a married man who doesn’t even want her.” The kindness from her voice earlier is gone now.

“What?” Heat blazes in my cheeks. She thinks I’m here to tell her lies? In an attempt to . . . steal George from her? Does she know we slept together?

“He told me you were being rather immature about everything.”

What exactly did he tell her? I feel like they’ve been laughing at me behind my back, and it feels . . . ugly.

Her lips quirk. “Darling, I’m not sure what kind of man you thought George was, but he’s happily married with a daughter he adores. He doesn’t want you.”

“I’m so sorry. You have no idea how awful I feel, and I regret what I’m here to say, but it’s nothing but the truth.”

She holds up a hand. That’s when I notice the ring on her finger. The ring I thought he’d gotten for me. The one he told me he was taking to his safe deposit box. Such a liar. “Stop. Please. My husband already told me that you threw yourself at him and he turned you down. And now you’re trying to rewrite history so I’ll—what? Step aside and you can keep him for yourself? Stop while you’re ahead. I’m embarrassed for you, and this whole scene is insulting to me and to my husband.”

“I’m sorry. I . . . What?”

“What do you want from me? Pity? Poor little grad student fell in love with her professor and doesn’t want to let him go.” She shakes her head. “He told me about you. How you’re so scared of what’s next that you’re looking for a man to take you under his wing. I think he made it clear that he will not be that man when you tried to take him to bed.”