Nick glanced at the message on his phone with a grin. Addy had told him she had to work late and wouldn’t be able to make dinner. But after he came back from his run, he had a message from her, letting him know that she had to go to a small event and could meet him there.

He pulled out a suit. He couldn’t remember ever being excited to see anyone like he was with her. Not even Gracen. He knew he was nowhere in her wealth scale, but he had a new job with Matt and Ryan doing security, so it wasn’t like he couldn’t earn a paycheck. For a long time, he thought he might not be able to. At one point, he really worried his sister was going to be stuck with him, taking care of him. Thankfully, that hadn’t been the case.

Dating had been something he wasn’t interested in, mainly because he knew not all women would look at a body like his and see past the scars. Addy had done that. She’d kissed his scars and shown him that they didn’t disgust her.

When he got to the hotel where the charity dinner was being held, he glanced around, looking for Addy. A group of men by the bar caught his attention. He frowned and watched as the men made space to reveal Addy smiling at them.

She wore a dress that was like the one at the other event. Elegant and beautiful with her hair up in a French twist. He marched up to the group and the recognition in her face made her smile. She left the group of men and placed a kiss on his lips before moving back and clearing her throat.

“Hi,” she smiled. “I didn’t think you’d make it.”

He had to stop himself from pulling her into his arms and hugging her tightly. He wanted to kiss her, really kiss her, so badly. “For you, I’d go to the ends of the earth.”

Her smile widened and she waved him off. “Stop.” Then a serious look took over her face. “I wanted to talk to you about this,” she glanced around, her gaze on everything but him. “Us.”

“What about us?” His chest tightened. He didn’t like the way she avoided his gaze or how she wrung her hands together in front of her.

“We’re moving too fast, Nick,” she said, glancing down at the floor. “I don’t know that I’m the right person for you. You need someone who can adjust to your disability.”

He reeled back as if he’d been slapped. Ice froze the blood in his veins. Was she pitying him? After last night? She ran a shaky hand over her face and let out a soft sigh.

“What are you saying, Addilyn?”

She glanced at his face and then away to look at the people around them. “I don’t think this is going to work. I’ve had fun, but we should stop before you get the wrong idea. I’m not looking for a relationship. Not with you.”

The way she said the words, as if he was someone beneath her and she wouldn’t dare be caught in a relationship with him, made him turn on his heel and leave. He should have known better. She was just like her twin. No matter what he’d wanted to believe, deep down, he knew. Addy and Gracen were two peas in a pod.

* * *

Someone knocked at his apartment door. He stumbled through the dark living room and opened the door to Kayla.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, more than a little annoyed at her. It was her fault he’d met Addy and fallen for the façade again. He’d been taken for a fool for a second time in a row.

Kayla scrunched her nose at him. “What the hell, Nick? When was the last time you showered? You look like hell.”

She shoved past him into his living room and turned on the lights he’d purposely left off.

“I didn’t say you could come in,” he growled. “Why are you here?”

Kayla turned on her heel and faced him. “I’m going to ignore that tone. You were supposed to come to my office to sign papers so you and Addy could go down to Golden Island for that weekend getaway.”

“Look, Kayla, no offense, but if I never see Addy or her sister again, it would be too soon. And no, I don’t need to be matched with anyone. Ever. I’m fine as I am. I tried telling you, but you wouldn’t listen.”

Kayla slapped her hands on her hips. “What the hell, Nick? What’s going on? You and Addy were doing great.”

He snorted and walked to the kitchen to get a bottle of water. She followed after him.

“Says who? All I know is that we were supposed to meet up for dinner and I was given my walking papers. She couldn’t date someone with my disabilities. That I was not the man for her,” he quoted Addy’s words to Kayla.

“Addy said that?”

He nodded and gulped the water. “Then she tried to call me. Maybe she wanted another night of fun. Or maybe she wanted to make fun of my scars. I don’t know, but I want to forget her. I don’t want to see her or talk to her. I’m done.”

Kayla frowned. “Did you do something? Did something happen?”

He gave a harsh laugh. “Yeah. We had sex. We fucking loved it. It was great and then she dumped me. A guy that’s disfigured like me doesn’t deserve someone as perfect as her.”

Kayla growled. “You stop that right now. This pity party is beneath you. You’re a strong warrior and those scars only mean you’ve fought a battle and won the right to stay alive. I don’t know what happened with Addy, but it doesn’t make you any less of a good man, Nick. Don’t let it get you this way.”

His shoulders dropped. God. He’d turned into such a fucking pussy. He’d fallen for Addy’s sweetness and now he couldn’t handle being dumped by her, too. How could he go on if he didn’t learn to let this shit go?

“I think you need to talk to her.”

“Hell, no,” he snapped. “No fucking way. She was pretty clear.”

Kayla bit her lip. “I don’t think she was.”

“Whatever. I’m done being played for a goddamned fool.” His heart hurt. He’d fallen for Addy. He’d fallen for the woman he’d shared his time with. The one he’d laughed with and played in the snow with. But she never existed.