Chapter Eight

"If it's about the money," I said, "we'll figure something out. You know we will."

"You're not listening, Piper. I don't want this house. I don't want to open a business in San Francisco. My truck gets broken into once a week, there's shit on all the sidewalks, and protesters block the streets every day. I hate this fucking city."

Wow. Okay. He'd complained about the city before, but hate? I mean, I knew there were problems, but just last week, he'd been going on and on about the food. He'd found a really great restaurant near his work for when he stayed late, which was often. This "hate" was coming out of left field, and so was throwing in the towel on our plans.

I whooshed out a breath, and then it dawned on me: maybe Leo was talking about the big picture, too. "You still want us, right?"

He ran a hand through his shaggy blond hair. "I started applying for positions last month."

My heart sank to the floor. He what? "You didn't answer my question."

"I was going to tell you, but then I was fired and—"

"Tell me if you still want us, Leo," I snapped.

"I'm moving to Boston."

My entire body turned ice cold and numb as the foundation holding up my world began crumbling beneath my feet.

Leo continued, "I thought once I had a job, I'd give you the option to come with me, but I think it's best we end things here. I talked to my brother, and he's going to loan me the money to start my own architectural firm in Boston and…" Leo kept on talking, but I couldn't hear a word. My heart was too busy cracking.

Why had he kept this from me?

Why hadn't he said he was unhappy?

He wasn't even giving me a chance to fix whatever was wrong.

I'd invested everything I had in this relationship, the house, and our future. I'd put his dreams and career first. I'd put us first. I thought he was my person.

Unexpectedly, my world was falling to pieces, and in its place fury rose.

I looked away, grinding my teeth. "Get out," I said quietly. I wasn't going to stand here listening to his BS anymore.

Leo froze, his brows furrowed with shock. "I was hoping we could do this amicably, Piper."

"Amicably? Amicably?" I exploded. "Are you fucking kidding me right now? You went behind my back and started planning a new life instead of telling me you had doubts. What kind of asshole does that?"

"The kind who knows you." He puffed out his chest and crossed his arms, like he'd won some big, fat victory with his inept reply. "If I'd told you I wanted to throw in the towel, you would've rallied the old Piper smile and piled on the optimism instead of listening to me. You would've pushed to keep going because you don't know when to quit."

So I was too positive? "And your solution was to say nothing and make me think we were still in love, still a team, and still getting married, while I sank every dime into this house and into your future business?" Fuck, fuck, fuck! Conni had hit the nail on the head when she accused me of only seeing the good in people. I never knew Leo was such a selfish coward. "Just…get out."

"Piper."

"Leave, Leo. I'll text you when you can come pick up your shit."

He stared at the floor for a moment. "We'll have to sell the house. I need the cash for—"

"I don't give a runny shit what you need right now. I live here. I own half. And I will decide what happens to this place."

"But Piper—"

"Leave. Or so help me, Leo, I'll make your life a living hell." I wouldn't, but he didn't know that. Or maybe he did. I wasn't the vindictive sort.

Justice was another story.

He shook his head and walked out.

Motherfreaking, unbelievable son of a…It took a minute to realize he hadn't left right away, so I went to see what he was doing. I spotted Leo outside, shoving two suitcases into his car.

That jerk.He'd packed this morning while I was at work. Meaning he'd been planning this breakup. He'd made up his mind without a single discussion. Yes, he'd already confessed as much, but seeing was believing.

This was happening.

I went to the cupboard, grabbed a bottle of pinot, and poured a glass. I'd been the supportive, loyal fiancée, and my reward was getting dumped. The dream I'd been working for was just that, a dream. A lie.

"Rough day?" said a deep voice as I lay in bed, sandwiched between two throw blankets. I'd stripped down the mattress so I wouldn't have to smell Leo's nasty odor. Then I'd been too tired to make the bed with fresh linens.

"You could say that." I pulled my top blanket to my chin. "Why are you in here?"

"I became worried when I heard noises."

"What noises?" I grumbled, keeping my eyes closed.

"Like someone being strangled."

Was he serious or trying to be funny? Didn't know. Didn't care. Leo had walked out with zero warning, and then I drank a bottle of wine. So yeah, maybe I'd been bawling my eyes out just a tad. "Wasn't me."

"Whatever you say. I am merely glad you are not being murdered by a serial killer."

"I should be so lucky," I muttered.

He didn't reply to my pity mumbles. "I wanted you to know that I might not be around for a day or two. I have to make a trip south."

Good for you,I thought.

"Yes, it is good. Because the sooner I find what I'm looking for, the sooner I'll know who you are to me."

"I didn't say anything. And what do you mean by that?"

"Never mind," he said.

Instantly, my headache was back, and whatever I'd just been about to say was gone.

"By the way," he added, "are you sure you don't know anything more about this house besides what you already told me?"

"Other than it's the bane of my existence? No."

"Any items left behind by the previous owners?"

He'd already asked me that. I pulled the blanket over my head. "Try talking to the ghosts in the basement."

"Ghosts?"

I lifted my head for a moment. "That was a joke. Could you please go now?" I might be a little drunk, but I knew it was a bad idea to have a stranger in my bedroom. Especially Draco. I still felt ashamed for ogling him earlier, even if Leo had been about to dump me. I wasn't the disloyal type, and that moment had definitely danced on the line. Then there were the other strange moments with Draco, none of which I was equipped to deal with right now.

"For what it's worth," he said, "there are far worse things in this world than a breakup."

I hadn't told him this was about Leo, but he'd probably guessed.

"Gee. Thanks." I'll stay in my bed, wallowing, all the same. "Please leave my room," I repeated.

"Of course. I will get out of your hair, and when I return, I can make other arrangements if that is what you wish."

Did Draco really think I was worried about him right now? Without Leo, I couldn't pay the mortgage, and that meant I'd lose everything—my savings and the money I'd invested out of pocket. Leo was an idiot to think we could find a buyer for this dump. We couldn't even sell it for the land because of the home's historical status. The only way to prevent a financial disaster was if Leo kept paying his share of the mortgage and came up with another few hundred grand to finish the renovations. Not going to happen.

I sighed. "At this point, it doesn't matter. Stay as long as you want. Or until the bank forecloses."

"There is no need to worry about that. I will buy the house."

"What are you talking about?" I mumbled.

"Your choices are to have the bank take it from you, along with everything you have invested, or to let me buy it for cash. I do not plan to occupy the home, so you may remain here as long as you like."

He knew I was in over my head with this house? He'd been doing more than researching me on the internet. He'd been diving into my finances. Who the hell was this guy?

Again, like he could read my thoughts, he said, "I know I must come across as direct. Maybe even intrusive. But as I mentioned, I have a connection with this house, and until I learn what it is, I do not wish it falling into anyone else's hands."

Oh, right. His dreams.The dreams he had after being held prisoner in Crete by a bunch of my long-lost relatives. I did not have the mental fortitude to deal with this crazy shit right now.

"Just go. Please." Tonight, I'd lock my door, and tomorrow, I'd figure out what to do. "And don't ever come in here again unless you're invited," I added.

"Will I be?"

What in the…?"No."

"Then I'll let you rest, but I was serious about the offer. I can pay in cash, and a private sale will allow you to keep more of the money. Think it over." He left the room, closing the door behind him.

Why would anyone want to buy this place? He could see the state it was in. The guy was full of shit. And I was done being a sucker who only saw the good in men.