End Scene by Elise Faber

Author:Elise Faber [Faber, Elise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-946140-75-3
Publisher: Elise Faber

Eleven

Aaron

I shoved my hand, its palm burning from the contact with Mag’s skin, into my pocket when I heard voices coming around the corner, stepping back from Maggie and turning to face the group as they continued their tour.

Talbot was nodding and smiling, but his eyes were on mine, and he lifted a brow.

Probably because Mags had her back to the group.

“You okay?” I asked softly.

A nod, her chin coming up, her shoulders straightening,

I’d seen her do that so many times that witnessing it in this moment was comfortable, almost nostalgic.

She turned, tagged his head of marketing, Jesse, with a look, and then pulled the other woman into a conversation about social media presence. Two seconds later, they were off and running, words like branding, audience demographics, and targeting making me tune out.

Give me spreadsheets any day of the week.

Plus, I had a bone to pick with Talbot.

“You’ve been together for three years?” I asked when he approached. The man was way too pretty, and he knew it, based on the confident smile he slid my way upon being trapped in a lie.

“I said together.” A shrug. “But I never said in what way.”

An equivocation then.

“Hmm,” I muttered. “So, you’ve worked together for three years.”

“She took a chance on me,” he said. “Because of her and her connections, her stubbornness, really”—another award-winning smile here—“she helped me get my big break with Artie’s company. So, when she wanted to branch out, to get into publicity and start her own business, I stuck with her.” A shrug. “Just like she stuck with me.”

“You two are close.”

“Yes.” Gold eyes narrowed. “You hurt her.”

Guilt.

Fuck, it was a heavy feeling.

“I made a mistake,” I said.

“A mistake?” Talbot’s tone was deadly.

I bristled, even knowing I deserved the derision. “Look, I was a selfish prick,” I said. “I wronged her, horribly, but I don’t owe you any apology or restitution. That, I’m saving for her.”

Respect on the other man’s face. “And have you?” he asked. “Have you apologized?”

“Not that it’s any of your business—”

“It is.” No negotiation in his tone.

“—but, yes. I’ve apologized,” I went on, ignoring the interruption. I hated that this stranger was trying to take me to task, but I could get beyond that, was glad that Mags had someone on her side. Someone who’d have her back. She needed that. “I’ve apologized,” I said. “And I’ll keep doing so for as long as it takes for her to forgive me, for me to make it up to her. I’ll continue to apologize forever because she’d didn’t deserve the shit I shoveled her way.” I inhaled, swallowed hard. “I fucking failed her, and I will not do it again.”

Silence for a long, drawn-out moment.

“See that you don’t.” Then he nodded, face clearing, award-winning smile peeking back out. “Now that’s out of the way, do you know how I can score myself some bottles of wine?”

“Are you going to be the face of Lakeside Lucha?” Not only did I know that Carlos would love Talbot,

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