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Clark pulls away, wishing that he hadn't done what he just did.

Avery smiles sweetly, seemingly satisfied with the kiss. She glances at his lips and back again at his eyes. "That was a pretty good kiss. I suppose you've practiced on a lot of girls before me, huh?"

And just like that, Clark feels a dark wave of guilt crash over him, taking him under and drowning all the loving thoughts about Avery that ever entered his mind. Suddenly, her blonde hair doesn't shine as bright, and her blue eyes don't sparkle the way they used to. Her mixed-matched outfit lost its flare, and her smooth smile doesn't make his heart beat any faster.

I've really done it this time; I've royally screwed up.

"I apologize, Avery, but I really must go," Clark says, suddenly void of any giddiness or happiness.

Avery's grin fades into a disappointed frown. "Oh, well, okay, I guess. Do you want to meet up tomorrow or something? Maybe get a coffee or a—"

"No!" Clark bursts. Realizing that he just yelled at a woman he kissed a moment ago, he softens his tone. "Look, I've made a horrible mistake, and I'm sorry to have dragged you into this mess."

"What mess? What are you talking about, Clark?" Tears glaze over Avery's blue eyes, threatening to slip down her face.

A twinge of guilt and regret flicks the man's heart, but he knows he's the one in the wrong and he needs to cut off this inappropriate relationship. "I should have never kissed you, I need to leave."

Clark backs away from Avery as she reaches to stop him, to get a comprehendible explanation from him. But, her chance at finding true love has disappeared as quickly as she entered his life. Clark runs away from the heartbroken woman he once thought he loved and heads back in the direction of his car as his thoughts race in circles around his mind.

Has he done the right thing? Was it fair for Avery to have her heart broken because of his ignorance and stupidity? Was it right for him to miss a chance at finding true love because his unhappy fiancé back at home was holding him back?

Clark doesn't have a good answer to either of those questions, and he could kick himself for committing the ultimate act of betrayal: adultery. He should have never stayed with Nicola when he hates her more than loves her. That's not fair to her, either.

The conflicted man unlocks his car and hops into the front seat, shoving the key into the ignition and twisting it hard. He zooms out of the parking spot and onto the road, leaving his mistakes behind him.

• • • • •

The sun is setting behind the London Eye by the time Avery returns to her hotel room. She meekly tosses her backpack on her bead and pushes the curtains open. The giant glass window reveals a breathtaking view of the city, but nothing, not even the wonderful city of London, can make her feel better.

When Avery first met Clark, she just wanted him to take a picture of her. But, from behind, she couldn't tell just how handsome he was. Not only was his accent extremely attractive, but his sandy hair, green eyes, and pale skin made him look like a model, or even better yet, an angel sent from Heaven above. Avery hadn't had a crush on a boy in an eternity, and Clark was the only boy in a long time that made her palms sweat and her heart beat faster.

She never believed in love at first sight until she met Clark for the very first time, but now, the thought of him brings tears to her eyes. Their kiss was so magical, so unlike anything she ever experienced before...

I should have never kissed you. I should have never kissed you. I should have never kissed you. Avery can't shake that stupid phrase from her mind. Was it her? Did her breath smell bad? Was she not pretty enough or cool enough or funny enough to be lucky enough to receive a kiss from the handsome man?

No, she can't think like that. It wasn't her fault he acted so weird and cold. He rejected her, and even went as far as yelling at her as if she had been the one to make the first move. That was wrong of him to do, and she did nothing to deserve being mistreated like that.

Avery can't help but think that he was hiding something important from her, but now, she'll never know. Clark is a thing of the past, and she must put their flirty relationship (if you can even call it that) behind her so she can enjoy the rest of her trip.

The door bangs open behind her, and Sam barges into her room. "Avery! What are you doing up here? We've got places to be, sights to see, and a city to explore! Plus, I'm hungry for desert, and I bet you are, too. Let's go eat downtown. Maybe we can get ice cream somewhere."

The redhead boy grabs her hand and tugs her away from the window. Maybe going out will help ease the pain of heartbreak. But she knows she's lying to herself; getting over Clark is going to take a very long time.

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