But I did none of that. Instead, I pushed him away in disgust and fled. I ran blindly through the backstage area, pushing past festivalgoers in my urgency to get away. I could hear both Heath and Piper calling after me but I didn’t stop. I was desperate to get away, afraid of what I would feel once I stopped running.

Thankfully there was a cab waiting by the exit and I hurriedly climbed in. Slumping into the backseat I held off my tears and closed my eyes to the powerful thud of my rapidly beating heart. I didn’t want to know the details. I didn’t want the mental images playing out in my mind. I just wanted to run from the hurt that was chasing me and nipping at my heels.

Remembering I didn’t have a room key I hurried across the marble foyer of the hotel to the reception desk. Unfortunately I was stuck behind a group of non-English speaking tourists who were testing the patience and organizational skills of the hotel receptionist.

After an agonizing wait the flushed-cheeked receptionist—her name badge identified her as Sophie—gestured me over to her and apologized for the delay.

Carefully I explained my predicament. But even as I spoke I realized it wasn’t going to work. Heath had checked in alone, so I probably looked like a desperate groupie trying to get into his room. She apologized and looked genuinely sorry, but said she wouldn’t be able to let me into the room.

“It’s okay Sophie, I’m here now. I can let her in.”

I swung around. Heath was standing right behind me looking flushed from running. He nodded politely at Sophie who looked relieved. I thanked her quietly and stalked off towards the elevator, desperate to get my stuff and leave.

“Whatever you plan on saying to me, don’t,” I said, angrily jabbing at the elevator button.

“Please let me explain.”

“I don’t want to hear it.”

“Don’t throw this away Harlow. Not over my fuck up.”

“You cheated on me. What do you expect me to do?” I jabbed relentlessly at the elevator button until the doors opened.

“I thought you were dumping me for Colton,” he said desperately, following me into the elevator.

“So you stick your dick into the next available vagina? Are you kidding me?” I felt my voice rise and echo around the elevator. I stopped myself. I didn’t want to do this. “No. I’m not doing this. I don’t want to know. I don’t need to know the gruesome details. I’m going to get my things.”

The elevator doors opened and I stormed out.

“Please … Harlow, don’t leave. We need to talk about this.”

I swung around, armed with a pointed finger. “No. You need to talk about this. Not me. I need to get my stuff and leave.”

I stopped at the door to the room, waiting for Heath to unlock it. But instead of opening the door and letting me in, he blocked the doorway.

“I can’t let you go back to California without talking about this,” he said desperately.

“Let me into the room, Heath.”

“Promise me you’ll hear me out?”

“You’re not in any position to demand anything here.”

I expected some smart assed comment about me being the one locked out and him having the key, but it never came. Instead, he reluctantly stood aside so I could walk in.

“I’m afraid if I let you leave that I’ll never see you again.”

“That’s the plan!” I snapped angrily, grabbing my overnight bag and shoving yesterday’s clothes into it.

“Don’t say that …” he begged.

“Why? There’s no point beating around the bush. We are through Heath.”

He quickly crossed the distance between us but stopped abruptly when he reached me.

“Baby, I fucked up. I really fucked up, I know that. But I was hurting. When I saw you with Colton, I lost my mind. I thought you had dumped me. I was in agony. I started drinking on the plane. I just needed something to take the pain away. Next thing, I’m in a toilet cubicle with some stranger.”

My head shot up and I straightened. “You had sex with her in a toilet cubicle? On a plane?”

Utterly repulsed I stormed over to the bed to retrieve my boxer shorts from the tangle of sheets. Horror tore through me and I stopped suddenly, swinging around to face him.

“Oh God … that’s why you wouldn’t make love to me last night,” I whispered. The weight of what was unfolding collapsed against my chest and I swallowed hard.

“I couldn’t … not when … not on the same day …” He ran his hand through his hair. “I couldn’t do that to you.”

My eyes shot red-hot anger at him. “Yet fucking some random skank in an airplane toilet cubicle is perfectly acceptable.”

“I’m so sorry baby, you have to believe me,” he cried desperately.

“I don’t have to do anything other than get the hell out of this hotel room.”

I zipped my bag and went to leave. But Heath grabbed my arm.

“I love you Harlow. Please don’t leave me.”

His words reminded me of our early morning lovemaking and the absence of any protection between us. I stopped. Horrified.

“Oh God … tell me you used protection.”

“You’re the only woman I’ve ever been with without a condom. I promise you.”

I suddenly hated him.

“Your promises mean nothing Heath. Not after this.”

I threw my bag strap over my shoulder, ready to walk out, but Heath stopped me. He looked distraught, his eyes full of tears.

“I am begging you Harlow … don’t leave me.” His voice trembled with emotion. “I always knew you were too good for me. And when I saw you with Colton … I thought you had decided to get back with him. I swear to God. Since you’ve been in my life I’ve never wanted another woman. You’re all I want. All I need. And if you stay … baby if you stay, I promise you I will never touch another woman for the rest of our lives together. Just give me another chance and I swear you won’t regret it.” He grabbed my hand. “Just stay.”

His words did little to penetrate the wall of hurt around me. It had gone up the moment I realized he had cheated on me.

I looked at him as if seeing him for the first time and reefed my hand away. I had to get away. I couldn’t stand being in the same room with him a moment longer. There was no way in hell I was going to let him see the meltdown I could feel building beneath my calm façade. He had broken my heart and I needed to be as far away from him as possible when I fell apart.

“Don’t touch me,” I snapped coldly, my jaw tense, my body tingling with heartache. “You don’t get to touch me anymore.”

“Don’t say that,” he begged and then seeing me head for the door, tried stopping me. “Don’t leave … not like this … I can explain …”

My face was thin ice and about to crack.

“Okay, explain. Did you have sex with that girl yesterday?”

“Harlow, I thought—”

“Did you have sex with that girl yesterday?” I yelled the question at him.

“Yes.”

Hearing him admit to it was like a cannon ball to the stomach and for a moment I faltered because it knocked the wind out of me.

But then I straightened and adjusted the bag strap over my shoulder. My face was stiff with heartache but I held it together.

“There. You’ve explained it to me. Plain and simple.”

I shouldered past him and yanked open the door but paused in the doorway to look at him. Anger, hurt and humiliation hijacked my tongue.

“I knew you were trouble when I met you. But like a fool I trusted you. I should have listened to my instincts because now I am the one paying for it.” I glared at him, ready to deliver the final blow. “I wish I had never met you.”

I knew my words were cruel and I knew they broke him because his face crumpled as I said them. He slumped down onto the bed and buried his face in his hands.

But I didn’t care. I was too hurt to care. So I turned and left, not bothering to look back.

Chapter Sixteen HEATH

My self-loathing was palpable.