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Me: Let’s see… you lied to me, cheated on me and hit on another woman 5 minutes after I broke up with you. So no… there is nothing you can say or do. I’m done.
Grant: I love you
Me: If you loved me, you wouldn’t have done what you did. I’ll be by this afternoon to pack up my stuff. Go find a woman on Tinder to hook up with so you’re not home.
I throw my phone down on the table and run my hands through my hair.
“You alright?” Joey rubs my back as he sits back down next to me at the table. His touch sends a wave of warmth through me.
I let out an exhausted sigh. “I’m going over this afternoon to pack up the rest of my things, and I get the feeling he’s not going to be out of there like I asked him to.”
I watch as his face falls from complacency to apprehension. “Do you want me to come with you?”
“I can’t ask you to do that.” My heart is pounding so hard that I fear it’s going to burst through my ribcage. I can only imagine what Grant would say if Joey accompanied me.
“You’re not asking, I’m offering. To be truthful, with what you just said, I’m not exactly comfortable with the possibility of you being alone with him. I don’t want to see you get hurt, Kels.”
I don’t know what makes me feel worse at the moment — the fact that Joey thinks Grant would hurt me, or that I think he could be right.
Meanwhile, butterflies flutter rampantly in my stomach as I contemplate the meaning in his words. I don’t know if my heightened state of confusion over my broken relationship is making me misread things. He and I have been friends for so long that I don’t know what to make of this new vibe I’m feeling between us. He’s been protective in a way that seems more than friendly — it almost seems possessive, but not in a bad way.
Chapter 13
I may have gone a tid bit overboard with breakfast this morning, but I wanted to do something to cheer Kelsey up. It was only a half-lie when I told her I would’ve been making it anyway — I do usually make myself a nicer breakfast on Sunday mornings. It’s really the only day of the week that I have time to sit down and eat more than a breakfast sandwich. I just happened to make a much bigger spread of food than I normally do. Minor details.
When she told me that she was going to her old place to pack up the rest of her things, I felt my entire body tense up. The idea of her going anywhere near that prick makes my blood boil. My offer to tag along and help her move her things was mostly self-motivated. I don’t want her to be alone with him because I don’t want him trying to charm her into giving him another chance. I’ve waited eighteen years to take a chance and ask her out, and I’m not going to lose it now. I did mean what I said though — I don’t want her to get hurt, and I don’t know what that fucker is capable of.
“Are you really sure you don’t mind?” Her eyes search mine for something — doubt, maybe? She’s glaring at me like she’s trying to figure me out. If I’m being honest, I’m trying to figure her out, too. I’m trying to figure out if I’m imagining the connection between us, or if it’s real and I’m just now seeing it for the first time. If it’s been there all along, how have I never noticed it before?
“I insist. Plus, I don’t know how much stuff you have, but I doubt very much you’ll fit it all in the back seat and trunk of your Corolla,” I huff out a small laugh, which brings a smile to her face.
“Yeah, that’s a really good point. Your truck would probably be able to take care of it in one trip.” She purses her lips in contemplation before continuing. “Okay, if you’re positively sure, then I’d love the help.”
“Ugh, great,” Kelsey mutters as we pull into the driveway and see Grant’s obnoxious BMW parked on one side.
“You don’t have to do this now, you know. We can come back during the week sometime.”
She sighs and shakes her head. “No, it’s probably better to just rip off the band-aid now.”
I follow her out of the truck, grabbing the boxes I’d stashed in the back before we left. When we get to the door, Kelsey hesitates to use her key — almost as if she doesn’t feel right doing so. Before she can stick the key in the lock, the door swings open.
“What, your key broken?” Grant says in a rude greeting to Kelsey. He eyes her up and down in a way that makes my fists clench with rage.
“I was getting there,” she says timidly. “I thought I asked you not to be here.”
He stares her down, trying to intimidate her further. “This is my fucking apartment Kelsey, which means I can be here if I want to be.”
Before I can step in to defend Kelsey, a fire ignites within her and she finds her voice. “Fine, we’ll be out of your way soon enough.” She nudges her shoulder against his chest as she passes through the doorway.
Dipshit puts up a hand to stop me from coming in. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I’m going to help her.” I stand my ground firmly, silently begging him to take a swing at me so I can beat his ass half to death.
“Like hell you are,” he scoffs.
“Grant, just fucking let him in. He’s helping me move my stuff out.” I hear Kelsey call out behind him.
“In case you forgot, princess, this apartment is leased in my name. Which means if I don’t want someone in my home, I don’t have to let them in.”
