But every part of me wants this to be real.
“Natasha,” I say.
“Yes.”
“I have to go.”
“Oh?”
“I’m leaving you here. Order anything you want from room service. I’ll have a personal shopper come by as well, and they’ll buy you whatever your heart desires.”
“Ummm…okay.”
I get up, grab my jacket from the closet, and head to the door.
“Wait! When will you be back?” Natasha asks.
“I don’t know,” I reply, not even bothering to glance back at her, because I’m too scared that if I do, I’ll never leave.
Chapter 6
Natasha
When Derek cast me aside, it hurt.
Roderick casting me aside, though—fuck, it’s killing me.
I don’t know what happened. I went into this relationship to get over Derek and spend money. Of course, I fucked it up. I’m not capable of turning off my emotions, and now I’m neck-deep in pain.
It was probably the sex. Some kind of love hormone must have been released when we were together. I had no way of anticipating it because he was my first. All women must go through this, or at least I assume they do.
I mean, it can’t bereallove, right? Not after a week.
I open my phone for the first time in days to literally hundreds of text messages. I told my parents not to worry…they didn’t listen. My friends are cheering me on. And Derek…well, he’s writing me love poems and sending me dozens of pictures from the times we were together.
His last message reads:
Derek:I don’t blame you for ignoring my messages, I just hope you’re okay. Stacey and I never did file for a marriage license. We both agreed that I panicked, and she was just jealous because we’ve been friends since preschool, and she was tired of feeling left out. I never wanted to hurt you.
I exhale slowly, opening the text box to reply.
Natasha:I’m glad we didn’t go through with it. It hurt, but looking back, we had obvious problems that we were ignorant of. They would have reared their ugly heads eventually.
Derek:I’m so glad you’re safe! I’ve been so worried about you. I can’t believe what’s on the radio, on the television…is it true?
A tear slides down my cheek. I don’t want him to know that it only took me a week to fall in love and have my heart broken all over again, so I decide to keep it short.
Natasha:Yes.
Derek:Natasha—I love you! Please, come back to Kansas. You know this can’t last forever. You guys didn’t even know each other. Do you really think it’ll last?
No, Derek—I know it won’t last—by design! I have three more weeks before it ends, though.
Instead, I reply with:
Natasha:Roderick’s calling me into the shower. I have to go.
Instead of putting my phone away, I open the only text I’ve received from Stacey. In a way, her betrayal hurts more than Derek’s does.
