He had managed to get the feeling of his heart out of the pit of his stomach with all his confidence talking to Stephanie's father. It felt like it was where it was supposed to be now. Until Stephanie refused to look at him and said she wasn't going home with him.

She couldn't even stand to be in a 3,000 square foot apartment with him.

His heart stayed in his chest, but it felt like someone ripped the bottom off and letting everything bleed out. His face shifted to blandly polite. The slight smile on his face reached nowhere near his eyes.

"Understood. Have a more pleasant rest of the evening. Let me know when you'll be home." He gave a nod to Brooke and headed for the door.