Maddox's clothes were neatly folded and put away after taking them out of the washing machine . The night with him was unforgettable , yet I was still thinking about Grayson and how he had defended Tiffany like she was the only one who mattered . If only I could blow off some steam with Maddox like we had earlier planned , but I needed this . It was still a shock to me that he felt the same way . In my eyes , he was still a playboy and finding out about how he slept with Kate two days ago changed nothing . I had no regrets as I knew what I had walked into when I told him what I wanted . While sitting on my living room couch , I remembered that look of regret Grayson had for just a split second but I quickly shut my eyes , telling myself to forget about it as I might have made up things that weren't even there . He must have already left town to enjoy his honeymoon . I needed him far away for now , not that it would change what was in my heart , but not seeing him would make it hurt less . Just as I was about to go to the kitchen and make something to eat , the doorbell rang and I paused , not a lot of people from before knew my new home address . I took a step towards the door but paused when I heard that familiar voice . " Harp ? " Grayson was at my doorstep and my heart skipped a beat , but I remembered what had happened with Tiffany and it made me get to the door even faster . I just wanted to open it so I could slam it in his face . But as soon as I opened it and saw him standing there with his hands in his pockets , I tightened my grip on the doorknob , unable to do it , especially when he smiled at me . " I was actually thinking I might've come to the wrong address . Can I come in ? " he asked softly . " I still have an hour before the meeting that's kept me in town and I thought we could talk . " Without saying a word , I stepped aside and kept the door open for him . He walked in slowly and glanced around the living room , that being his first time in my new home . I closed the door but didn't move from there , crossing my arms because I was still so mad at him , but he looked too good . His long sleeves were rolled up to his elbows and his hair was a little messy , like he had a rough day and that just made him more attractive to me . My eyes travelled down his veiny forearm and it sent my mind places , but as soon as my eyes dropped to his hand and I spotted that wedding ring , my heart shattered . Turning to face me , he said , " I have a lot to say but first of all , I'm sorry about Tiffany . What she said was out of line ." 7:22 Tue , Sep 16 Chapter 11 77 55 vouchers I sighed heavily . " How long are you going to keep apologizing for her ? She's been out of line so many times ever since she came into our lives and you've always done this . " He didn't say anything , just as I expected . " I'm already over it ," I said , even though I wasn't . Hearing him apologize on Tiffany's behalf only made my blood boil and I just wanted him to leave immediately . But he sat down on the couch like he belonged there and tapped the spot next to him . " Come sit with me . " I hesitated and my brain told me not to go , but my heart still remembered what it felt like to be wrapped in his arms . It only took a few seconds for me to give in to my heart's desire and I moved slowly until I got to the couch . I sat beside him , but not too close . Then , he reached for me to get me closer and threw his arm over my shoulder like the old days . For a few seconds , I let myself get comfortable by resting my head on his chest . I hated how much I still loved it and how my body still responded to him . I wished he hadn't picked Tiffany and married her . I wished I could forget everything and just exist in that one stupid moment . " You just told me you're over what Tiffany said , but I don't believe you , " he said . I smiled a little at how he caught onto that . I loved the way it felt when I had the side of my face on his chest and his voice vibrated while he spoke . He held me tighter and even though my brain begged me to get away as I had gotten too comfortable , my body melted in his warmth . " I just couldn't think straight the moment you slapped Tiffany . I didn't mean to lash out at you the way I did . " " She's your wife now . I get it ." " Yeah , she's my wife , but you were here before her and you'll always be here . " I hated the sound of it . I was a constant in his life but never the choice . Still , my heart fluttered and I hated that , too . I tried to sit up so I could get away , but he held me tighter , as if begging me to sit still and I listened to my heart . " Does Tiffany even know you're here right now ? " " No. She's too busy with my mother - in - law . She was actually furious when Tiffany told her what you did . " I chuckled . " Was she more pissed than how I saw her at the wedding the one time I made eye contact with her ? " ( 77 ) Chapter 11 55 vouchers " More eyes were on you than they were on the bride . I'm guessing she couldn't stand that . You were absolutely gorgeous in that red dress and those heels . " " I didn't think you even noticed ." " I definitely did ." My lips curved into a smile like those words meant the world to me . I expected him to bluntly ask me why I wasn't at the reception , or how I ended up at Maddox's place , but he completely changed the subject . " You know , we haven't really talked much since you came back to town ." I looked up at his handsome face with a scoff . " You're the only reason that hasn't happened . You've been too busy with work ." He subtly licked his bottom lip and smiled at me . " I could never be too busy for you ." There it was again , that flutter in my chest . I couldn't even speak . Then , he reached for my hand and his thumb brushed against my knuckles in slow and gentle strokes that made me forget how to breathe . That didn't even seem to make a difference to him as he had no idea what he was doing to me . He just casually carried on with the conversation . " How was the graduation ? I really wanted to come since we hadn't seen each other in years , but I just couldn't make it . I had some issues at the company that needed me . " " It was .... fine . I had a few family members present . " " And your sister ? " I frowned . " She wasn't there . Actually , I didn't even inform her . I just thought she wouldn't care . If only mom were still alive , things might've been different ." " You know what I think ? It's just a matter of time and you two will be close again . " I chuckled bitterly , pulling away from his hand . " She called yesterday but it turned out to be a mistake . She made that very clear ." He sighed . " You two used to be so close . I would've never thought that a day like this would come . " Talking about my sister only broke my heart and I wanted to get up to have a moment alone , but he pulled me back down and held me close . I might've wanted to be alone , but I liked the feeling of being in his arms better . " So , tell me about that job again ." I appreciated his effort to distract me . He already knew quite a bit about it . " Well , it's this online gig for a startup and I work six hours a day . It's good money . That's why I have my own 7:22 Tue , Sep 16 Chapter 11 place now . " : 77 55 vouchers " You're the smartest tech person I know and can do better than that . Actually , my friends and I are looking to assemble a team that can develop an app for one of my companies and you're perfect for it . " I hesitated . Working closely with Grayson ? " I'll think about it ." I managed to force a smile . " And I'm hoping that'll be a yes . I want it to be you . " He brushed a strand of hair behind my ear the way he used to and it sent shivers down my spine . His words were playing with my broken heart yet I wanted to believe it meant more when I knew it didn't . I looked away and rested my head right on his shoulder , still feeling that arm around me . " Harp ? " " Yeah ? " " I missed you ." My heart started racing but I didn't look up at him . I balled my hand into a fist . He said all the right things but I couldn't believe it had to be now . " I missed you too . " The words left my lips softly and they were true . I hated myself for it as soon as I told him because I knew he didn't miss me in the way that I missed him . I was still just a ... friend . " Harp , I want us to be close again . " That was it . I couldn't take it anymore . I feared I'd sit on him and kiss him before stopping myself . His phone rang and I took that opportunity to get away from him . I crossed my arms as I stood by the window and looked outside . What game was he playing with me ? I wanted that more than anything , just not in the way he did . " That must be your wife . You better go now . " " It's actually the office , but when I come back , I'll figure things out . Tiffany will have to understand ." " Understand what ? " I asked , my voice flat . " That you'll always be important to me and I'm not letting you go . " I turned to face him , those words not holding the meaning that I wished they did . He came closer , reached for my hand , then led the way outside like I was his girl and I wished I was , but that wedding ring scraped against my skin and reminded me of my place . 7:22 Tue , Sep 16 Chapter 11 : He stopped right in front of his car , turning to face me with a smile . " If you need anything , I'm right here , " he said . 77 55 vouchers I looked at those lips , his shoulders , his forearms , all of him . The one thing I needed was exactly what he couldn't give me . He pulled me into a hug and my eyes widened a little . I felt his warmth and closed my eyes like I could melt into it again . I wanted to pull away so I wouldn't get too comfortable , but still held on just a few seconds . longer . When he finally let go , his eyes lingered on my face while he opened his car door . " Stay away from Maddox . He's nothing but trouble . " He didn't even wait for my response and got in to drive off . I watched his car until it turned at the corner , wrapping my arms around myself while thinking about his warning for me to stay away from trouble . I closed my eyes and Maddox was all I could see . In those sheets and on that bed , he made me forget it all . He made me feel wanted and I wanted him too . But now that the high had faded , all of it was creeping back in , especially after Grayson had come to my house and said everything I wanted to hear . As I slowly made my way back inside , something made me stop in my tracks with narrowed eyes . Tiffany didn't react to the slap the way she should've . Of course , she shed some fake tears in front of Grayson , but that was it . That wasn't the Tiffany I knew . She was too calm about it . Why didn't it feel right ? AD Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!