Tara hesitated for a moment then lifted her chin. “Yes.”

“Am I one of them? Just passing through your life? Will I get to see you again for a meaningless hookup every year or two when I visit Weldon?”

“I…” She drew back from him as though he’d struck her. “Are you judging my lifestyle? You suggested the dating dare because you wanted the same thing. You wanted something fun and uncomplicated to entertain you before you left for Paris. Don’t you dare deny it.”

“We’re not talking about what I want right now, because you have no idea what I want.”

“Isn’t that convenient for you?” She huffed a humorless laugh. “Since we’re talking about me, let me make one thing crystal clear for you. When this is over—which obviously is now—you will be out of my life. Permanently. You will never be one of my fuck boys, so don’t concern your pretty little head over it.”

Seth listened to her with rising panic. This is over? Now? No. That was not what he wanted. That was the last thing he wanted. “Tara…”

Before he could do anything to salvage the mess he’d instigated, Tara swiftly opened the passenger door and got out of the car. She was half a block away by the time he managed to catch up with her.

“Where are you going?” Seth asked with a tremor in his voice.

“Home.” She didn’t bother turning to look at him.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Let me take you home. We could talk later.”

“No, and no.”

“Tara.” He took a gentle hold of her arm and she shook him off violently.

“Don’t touch me. Don’t ever touch me again.” She finally spun to face him, and the anger and hurt in her eyes tore at his heart. “I’m going to walk home, and we won’t be talking again. This would’ve ended in less than two weeks anyway. It’s not worth the trouble.”

Tara walked off and Seth let her go. Maybe there was nothing left to talk about. He knew everything he needed to know now. He wasn’t worth the trouble.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Too focused on holding back her tears, Tara didn’t notice that Seth wasn’t following her anymore. By the time she turned around to look for him, she’d come too far from the park to spot him. Maybe he was there, staring at the direction that she’d disappeared to.

She stomped down on the urge to run back to the park to find him. She’d done nothing wrong, but she felt guilty when he questioned her life choices. When she felt anxious to appease him, she’d lost it. Tara refused to be that needy, sniveling girl again. She would not be ashamed of who she was. This was her life, and she could do with it as she desired. No one dictated what she did. Not anymore.

But she hadn’t meant what she said. Even as the words were coming out of her mouth, she knew they were lies, but she had been too angry and scared to stop them. She didn’t want this to be the end of them. Not like this.