TAMING THE ALPHA

2

“We’ve had a lot of fun this last year and I appreciate you and all you’ve done for me and Clara, but this isn’t working.”

“What do you mean?” he asked. The look on his face said he was genuinely shocked.

“We’re just two very different people,” I said. I didn’t want to hurt him, but I needed to make sure he understood this was done. “We have been off for a while. You have to know that. I think it’s best if we go our separate ways now while we are still friends.”

He stared at me for several seconds. “Are you serious right now?” he asked

“Geoff, you know we aren’t in a good place. I want to stay friends, but we can’t be together. We’re not compatible.”

“That’s not true,” he shot back.

“I’d love to be able to check in with you now and then,” I said. I knew this was going to be a volatile conversation, but it had to happen. I couldn’t hide from it anymore. It was just making me miserable.

“I don’t believe you,” he said. “You’re upset. Is it that time of the month? I thought we had another week.”

This was exactly why I had to get away from this man. I could not deal with this anymore. “No,” I snapped. “We’re over. I’m sorry to be blunt, but it’s time for us to move on.”

“No.”

“This isn’t something that is up for debate,” I told him.

“How dare you?” he hissed.

He got up and walked into his bedroom. I wasn’t sure if that meant the conversation was over, but I was going to take advantage of him being gone. I got up and was ready to make my break for it when he came back into the room.

He threw a box at me. Instinct kicked in and I caught it. “What’s this?” I asked.

“Open it,” he growled.

It wasn’t hard to figure out what it was. I didn’t want to open the little black box. “I don’t want this,” I told him.

“Open the damn box!”

I flinched. He did have a tendency to fly off the handle. It was just one of the reasons I wanted to end the relationship. I opened the box and found a diamond engagement ring. I wasn’t sure what it was supposed to mean. “I don’t know what you want me to say,” I told him and tossed the box back at him.

“I was ready to make the move,” he said. “You made me think this was where our relationship was heading. Did you enjoy leading me on?”

“I wasn’t leading you on. I know you don’t love me. We have been in a very rocky, weird place for the last month. I know you know it. We were not heading for marriage.”

“I was!” he shouted.

“I’m sorry, but that is not how I felt. I don’t want to marry you. I know you will find someone who does. You’re a great guy but we are just not compatible.”

He glared at me. “That is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” “I’ll see you around,” I said and made my way to the door. “Wait! I want you to tell me why. You owe me that!”

He was getting angrier. This was what I wanted to avoid. Geoffrey had a tendency to get really pissed, really fast. He had never been violent, but it always felt like it was just bubbling under the surface. It made me nervous.

“I told you why,” I said calmly. “It isn’t anything you did wrong. This is on me. I’m not ready for this relationship and I’m definitely not ready for marriage.”

He scoffed. “You have a kid. I told you I wanted to adopt her. How many other men are going to want to be a father to a kid that isn’t theirs?”

I took a deep breath. He was lashing out. “I appreciate that you were kind to her, but that isn’t a reason for us to be together. I’m not searching for a father for her. We’re doing just fine on our own. If I’m not going to be happy, it isn’t going to do us any good.”

“So, you’re saying you weren’t happy with me?”

I really didn’t want to hurt his feelings. “I’m saying we’ve grown apart and I wouldn’t be happy. Ultimately, the best thing I can do for my little girl is show her what it’s like to be in a happy, healthy relationship.”

“You were happy.”