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“I’ to That’s what I want to talk to Echo about But I can’t fucking find her so I can ask her to listen”

Sebastian nods slowly, then reaches for his phone He shoots off a text, and gets one back quickly “Go back to the hotel”

“And do what? Echo isn’t there”

“Wait When she shows up, if she’s willing to talk, shelve your pride Treat tonight like it’s your first—and last—chance to convince her to choose you Take it fro her how he felt Maybe the truth would have ruined everything AndI’ll never know What I did learn? Regret is bitter, and it lasts forever”

By eight o’clock that night, it’s a wonder I haven’t worn holes in the hotel roo Finally, I hear the click of the latch The door slowly opens

Echo steps in She looks wary

She’s been crying

My knees nearly go out fro horrible What if she can’t forgive me? “Shortcake…I’m so sorry”

She shakes her head, then looks pastin the rest of the room with a confused furrow of her brows Since I’ve been consuotten about the rose petals scattered across the pristine white cohtstand

“What’s this?” She sounds shocked and…so else Horrified?

“My attempt to seduce you” I cross the room to her, but stop short I want to touch Echo, but I need to find out where her head is “I guess Xavian told you I had no intention oflove to you”

She nods, ar and doesn’t trust ive it to her “He did”

Goddamn it, I wish he would have let me confess my own screw-ups, but I understand why he didn’t “I’inity with soood for you, and I took that decision away It wasn’t fair”

“So why did you?”

“When Xavian first let it slip that he intended to take you to bed, I told ret it He’s a man whore He doesn’t love you…” I blow out a breath “And I thought I could save you”

That only see eyes “My decision must have seemed impulsive to you I know youto help me, but—”