Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 43540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Easton shakes his head, scraping his palms down his face. “I always thought you were a bit crazy. Used to actually think it was cute. But now you’re legit crazy. Guess you did both of us a favor when you walked out—”
“Walked out?” I repeat as a question. “I walked out on you?” That part does come out sounding crazy because I’m seconds away from going loco on his ass. “You fucking cheated on me!” He’s close enough that I thrust my palms out and shove him. He trips backward, and I launch myself at him, shoving him again.
“I didn’t fucking cheat. You jumped to conclusions—”
“I caught you, you lying piece of shit!”
“No, you walked into a room and assumed that’s what I was doing! You wouldn’t even let me explain.”
“What was there to explain? Huh? Were you going to tell me that she slipped on your dick? Oops, sorry, babe.”
“I didn’t fuck her.”
I scoff. “Sure, you didn’t. Guess you thought I was crazy and naïve.” He takes a menacing step toward me but stops. His jaw muscles flex, and his hands are balled into fists at his side. Once upon a time, I used to love it when he got worked up like this. It made him even hotter. But now all I want to do is sock him in the nose, cry my eyes out, and go home.
“I don’t give a shit what you believe anymore. I’ve also had two years to simmer on us. And wonder why the fuck I tried so hard. A year of my life wasted for a girl who couldn’t even give me the time of day to explain.”
“There was nothing to explain—”
“There sure as fuck was! Instead, you found comfort in my best friend. How is Russ, by the way?”
“Russ? How would I know? He’s your—”
“How long after I was out of the picture did you two fuck?”
I gasp at his question. “Dude, fuck you.”
“Again, not—”
“No, fuck you! Fuck you! I have no idea what I ever saw in you. But I am so glad I woke up and realized what a fucker you are!”
“Same. Thanks for doing me a favor.”
I open my mouth to yell a rebuttal, but wires are crossing, and sparks are causing my brain to short-circuit. “I—I—Get out of my cabin!”
“You’re in my fucking cabin. You get the fuck out!” Then he turns, his feet pounding on the floor until he opens the bedroom door and slams it behind him.
***
I stand there for a while, staring at the closed door. His words slowly sink in. And when they do, they hurt. Not a little pinch hurt but a ‘stinging, did someone just stab me in my heart’ hurt. He’s the one who tore the beautiful rug out from under me. He ruined us, not me.
Yeah, I didn’t let him explain. I refused to allow his excuses to change what I saw. My love was so deep that I knew I would be willing to pretend I didn’t catch him with another woman. That he didn’t tear my heart out and spit on the life we created. The future we were planning. I knew it was silly to invest my entire life in us. But I saw forever whenever I looked at him. He was the other part of my heart, and I hated it anytime we were apart. Because his air was my air. I know. It was pathetic. I was obviously so blinded by love that I didn’t realize he was fucking cheating on me.
He might as well have hit me with a truck. I was crushed. I didn’t know a human body could feel so broken without any physical damage. I cried enough tears to fill an ocean. And no matter how much I lie to myself and my friends, I’m not over what he did. Seeing him again brings all these emotions I’ve spent the last two years burying back to the surface. No matter how deeply I try to suppress them, they still have the power to hurt me.
I wipe my eyes and drag my feet into the living room. I notice a few frames on the fireplace mantel. Taking a closer look, I see one of him and Jake. A group photo with some old friends of his. One of. . .
“Don’t think too much into that one. I like it for the background view.” I cock my head at Easton, now dressed, walking into the kitchen.
The picture is of us on a bike ride up to the mountains. The sunset was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. I step back, taking in more personal touches in the cabin. I didn’t notice last night, but this. . . “This is your cabin,” I say.
“Tell me something I don’t know.” I want to turn around and start round three with him, but I walk over to my laptop bag and dig through it until I grab the pamphlet. Then I slam it on the counter.