One look into those devastated blue eyes and she'd felt her own heart break. She'd heard him clap, then turned around and … the air chilled. So much so Gabriella doubted she'd ever be able to make him listen to her, make him understand.

What had she done? Panic crowded her throat, threatened to strangle her. She turned and walked blindly back into the house, pushed a shaky hand through her hair. She muttered a stream of obscenities as she pulled her robe shut and tied it at the waist. She began pacing back and forth, too wired and frightened to sit. She couldn't blame him for being hurt, for being made. Were the situation reversed, she'd undoubtedly feel the same way.

Why hadn't she just disconnected the line? Why had she answered that ignorant call? Because she was an idiot, she thought with a bitter laugh. Because as long as she was paying to have the damn thing, she might as well answer the line. She was too damned practical for her own good. And look at what it had possibly cost her.

I swear it will never happen again.

His parting words ricocheted through her cramping brain. He couldn't mean what she thought, Gabriella thought faintly. He couldn't mean that they were finished. The thought terrified her, made her belly tip in a nauseated roll. Surely not. Surely he'd give her the opportunity to explain. He'd have to. She swallowed, felt the burn of impending tears scald the back of her eyes.

She loved him.

He had to know that. And if he didn't, then she'd enlighten him.

Pride made you do stupid things. Things like walk away from people you really shouldn't. Troy sipped his beer as he sat on the back porch looking out into his parent's small backyard. He'd driven around for a while until he ended up in his parent's driveway. Michael had been the only one up and though he wasn't remotely interested in conversation, he took the offered drink and followed his brother outback.

"So on a scale of one to ten how bad does it suck?" Michael said as he sat down beside him.

Troy shrugged, "eight, maybe a nine." Considering he lost his temper and left without letting her explain probably made it a solid nine.

As if the situation needed explaining. He'd been such an idiot to think that this thing between them was real. He was the one who made the deal and she never indicated once that she wanted this to go on longer than they expected.

Michael nodded as he popped the tab to his own beer. "Could be worst, you could be an MIT grad living in your old room back at home."

Troy raised a brow as he lifted the beer to his lips. Truth be told he'd like nothing better than to get blind, roaring drunk, but drowning his troubles in alcohol had never been his thing and he wasn't about to start now. But a distraction from the topic he could handle.

"Just because you're having some setbacks doesn't mean it's bad. Times are different. The economy is different."

"You sound like dad," Michael laughed before taking a sip of his beer.

"Dads right."

Michael nodded. After a moment of silence Michael let out a sigh. "Do you think we're ever going to be as lucky as they are?"

"Who? Mom and Dad?"

Michael nodded, "I mean do think we can pull something like this off." He motioned around them at the house. "The whole family life with a house and dog."

"We never had a dog?"

Michael laughed, "We should have had a dog."

Troy shook his head and took another sip as he thought about the question. He used to think that his parents were just extremely lucky, but he knew how hard they worked to keep everything going. He also used to think he wasn't a relationship kind of guy. Until he was in one.

Even a fake one. It had been the best month of his life.

"I think it's possible. If we're willing to work for it." Troy finally said.

"I just have to get out of here."

"What are you going to do about that?"

"I have a few interviews lined up," Michael shrugged, "Something will stick right?"

Troy nodded. "Good plan."

"So, would I be correct to guess that the reason you're here, is because of that girl we met the other day."

Troy's gaze landed on his phone and he had to force himself to look away. Had to force himself to keep from picking it up and calling her. If he could only hear her voice…

"Yeah," Troy said with a frown at the pathetic thought. Her voice was what had gotten him into this mess, his insatiable need to hear her, to be with her. He swallowed. "I just didn't want to be there for a little while."

"Did you do something stupid?"

Troy huffed as he shook his head. "No. I was just a really… really big idiot."

Was it really so important to be right? Troy wondered now. Was it worth the agony of being alone? Of being without her? Had he overreacted? Should he have just let her explain like she'd asked to do?

"But you love her, don't you?"

He thought so. Only now he wasn't so sure what he felt anymore. Humiliated. Jealous. Disappointed. Troy let out a sigh as he took another sip of his beer.

"Yeah. I love her," he admitted quietly. "I wouldn't be upset if I didn't."

Michael shook his head. "That kind of … sucks."

"Yeah. It does." Troy said looking up at the treehouse in their backyard.

Michael leaned back on his palms as he looked out into the yard. "To think, I was so jealous of you."

Troy raised a brow. "What do mean?"

"Well here comes my little brother, showing off his girl, talking about his big plans to be a teacher." Michael shrugged. "All I have is a degree and talent for writing code. I don't know, shit got real I guess."

"Life isn't a contest Mike."

"Says the brother who has his shit together."

"So together," Troy motioned with the top of his beer bottle, "That I'm considering moving into that tree house?"

"Aw come on, you're not moving anywhere," Michael shook his head. "I'm sure things will work out."

"Dude, I had sex in a public bathroom today," Troy said more as an afterthought then a point.

Michael let out a laugh, "Sounds like things aren't that bad."

They both laughed after a minute and Troy set his beer to the side as he leaned back on his palms too. "No, no I guess they're not."

"So why are you here?"

Troy let out a long breath, "Because as much as I want her, as much as I love her… I know she doesn't feel the same way. When someone opens up their heart to you, you just don't say ditto and pretend it never happened."

Two days had passed without a word, and though he loath to admit it, it was absolutely killing him. He felt dead on the inside, unable to breathe. Numb and joyless. It was awful. He stood off to the side of main room where everyone was drinking and laughing. The only thing left to do was to go back to life as usual.

Only now, he was miserable.

The entire house had a somber mood to it, and he spent more time everywhere but there. He didn't want everyone to know he'd been a fool. He'd gone from being the top dog to being so shamed he preferred the doghouse to his own bed.

The guys had mentioned coming out tonight and he figured he'd give it a shot. Only being here just reminded him of her. It reminded him of seeing her for the first time walking into the kitchen. It reminded him how much seeing her in the crowd lit up the room.

He could still hear her laughing. Could still feel her pressed against him when they danced. He hadn't been ready for it to be over. He hadn't seen her since that night and it was probably for the best because he had no trust in his ability to stay away from her.

The shriek of his phone ringing rose above the noise and Troy cursed the instant hope jumped into his chest. Gabriella? He always wondered. Every time the line rung, his first thought had been her. Hell, who was he kidding? Every thought was of her.

He ignored the call without even looking down at the screen. He didn't need to. She wasn't going to call him. They had a deal. A month. The month was over. He lifted his beer and took a sip as he canvased the room. His phone chimed.

Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen.

Look, I know I don't deserve it, but I would really like the chance to talk to you. To explain.

Troy stared at the message on his screen, silently considering what she said. Another message flashed across his screen.

Call the hotline. Please.

Troy stood there a moment. Not really sure what to do. After a quick back and forth with himself, he blew out a breath and dialed her hotline and to his complete bewilderment, he got a recorded message saying that the line had been disconnected, was no longer in service.

He looked down at his phone, his heart began to race and a small seed of hope sprouted once more in his chest. Did this mean- could she have-

"Hey,"

Troy looked up from his phone to find Gabriella standing in front of him in a pair of shorts and an oversized purple shirt that hung off her shoulder. Her brown hair was down around her shoulders. She looked equally as miserable. His first impulse was to ease her pain. To let her know that he cared, that he ached, too. And that was the moment he knew he'd do whatever she asked, he'd believe whatever she told him, because he desperately wanted her back, wanted to be with her. His pride could go to hell. His need for control could go to hell.

He wanted her. Had to have her.

He cleared his throat. "Hey."

"I'm sorry."

Two words. That was all it took for him to literally shake with an emotion so strong it was all he could do not to reach for her. "No," he sighed. "I'm sorry. I was unreasonable. I-"

"No you weren't," she interrupted. "You were right to be angry, had every right to be mad. I don't blame you. I just-" she let out a sigh. "I planned on turning it off at the end of the month. I couldn't do it anymore, hated it after being with you."

They were both quiet as someone ran by with solo cups in each hand, the crowd that followed pushed Gabriella slightly and Troy held out his hand to catch her.

"You alright?" Troy asked quietly.

"Maybe we should go somewhere else to talk?"

Troy nodded and reached for her hand and led her upstairs. She followed behind him. Neither of them said anything as Troy tried a few doors before finding an empty room.

As soon as she walked past him inside she began talking. "I'm such an idiot. I don't have a good enough excuse. The truth is as soon as you said something I canceled the line, it's just that it was paid for until the end of the month. So I thought I should answer it. I mean clearly," she paused, a frustrated growl bubbled up inside her. "I don't expect you to understand, that's fine, I just wanted you to know that it's off, and I guess what I'm asking is if you can forgive me? If you think we can get past this? Because I really want to."

When he didn't say anything, she continued.

"I miss you. I want you to hold me and kiss me and make love to me. I want to fall asleep in your arms. I want to talk to you for hours about ice cream, books, teaching. I want pancakes." Her voice cracked. "I just want you."

For a moment Troy couldn't speak, couldn't move. He absorbed everything that she said, felt it creep into his chest and take root.

She made a nervous sound, like a sob caught in the back of her throat. "Well, I mean I guess that's my answer isn't it?" she moved to walk around him and out the door and Troy reached out for her arm catching her before she could make it out. "Gabriella?"

She turned to him, her brown eyes wide.

"Everything you said about being together and ice cream and pancakes." He swallowed. "Well…ditto."

She laughed as her face flooded with relief. "Oh thank god."

Troy laughed as well as he brought her too him, not minding the way she melted against him. He missed her. His lips pressed a kiss to the top of her head as she wrapped her arms around him. Both of them eager for the other. "I love you," he murmured softly.

She picked her head up and eyes searched for his. "I love you, too."

Then he kissed her…and the air came rushing back into his lungs.