She might as well have punched him in the gut. She’d accused him of hiding something. Of not telling her the truth. Of coercing her mother. Of using her. “You want honesty?” he said, his voice sounding an octave higher than normal. “Then fine. Good thing this has just been for fun. We’ve accomplished our goals, and now we can both leave with no attachments.”

He saw his words hit the mark. She blinked, and her face colored.

“For the record,” he continued, “I’m not the one going around snooping in people’s desks. And also for the record, I’ve always believed in you. I’m not Sam, Tessa.”

She sat rigidly straight on the couch. “I’ll work on finding someone to supply the desserts before I leave for Chicago. I—I wouldn’t leave you high and dry.”

“I’m sure I can find someone to replace you.”

She shot him a what a jerk look. Which made his heart give a lurch. Because he knew he’d just crossed an imaginary line—one that couldn’t be uncrossed. Even now, in the heat of things, he knew, deep in his soul, that she was irreplaceable.

He opened his mouth, which still had his big foolish foot in it, but it was too late. She’d turned and started down the hall to her old room, leaving him to wonder what the hell had just happened.

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-One

It was 3 a.m. when Tessa, fully packed up, stood outside the top stair of her old garage apartment in the steady rain. Tessa knocked as softly as she could to avoid waking her old landlord, Mrs. O’Hannigan, but Cosette was meowing loudly in her carrier, protesting the jarring departure from her warm bed and the raindrops that were way too close. “Shhh, Cosette,” Tessa said. “I’m sorry.”

Yes, she was. For a lot of things. But mainly for letting down her guard. Why did all men suck?

Vivienne finally opened the door, rubbing her eyes sleepily. “Tessa!” She was wearing a T-shirt that said Joie de Vivre and sleep shorts, and her long hair was sticking up on one side. She grabbed Tessa’s suitcase and let her in, closing the door just as Mrs. O’Hannigan’s light flicked on.

Juliet walked out of the bedroom, wearing a terry robe and matching slippers, pulling her hair up into a quick bun. “What’s wrong? Are you all right?” She looked from Tessa to the suitcase to the cat carrier. “Oh no.”

Vivienne was already freeing Cosette, talking softly to her, and finding her a bowl of water. Juliet gave Tessa a questioning look, but all Tessa could do was bite down on her lip so she wouldn’t cry. “Can I stay here tonight?” She tried to ask in a level, calm tone but her voice cracked anyway.