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Remington’s gaze went to my phone that was sitting beside me on my cot. “Looks like you’re getting a call from the boyfriend,” he said, nodding toward the lit-up screen.
I didn’t even glance at it. “He’s not my boyfriend anymore.” As soon as the words were out, I felt a slice of pain cut straight through my heart. Sucking in a deep breath, I prayed the numbness would return, but for some reason, it had lifted when I saw Remington.
I wasn’t sure why I was telling him when I hadn’t even told my parents about the breakup. I hadn’t even really wanted to tell Shaw, yet there I was, the truth spilling out of me like word vomit.
His clear blue eyes widened. “Can I ask why?”
I wouldn’t cry. I wouldn’t. Tears wouldn’t solve anything. They wouldn’t wash away the past and make it so that Luca hadn’t cheated on me. I blinked back the moisture in my eyes and swallowed the lump trying to choke me. “He put his dick in someone else.”
“Fuck,” he muttered. “I’m sorry, Violet.”
“Don’t be. It was bound to happen eventually. It was stupid of me to think that we actually had a chance when the age difference was in our way.” I took the tissue from him when he lowered it. “Love doesn’t really mean anything when a guy’s dick is the one doing the thinking.”
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been in love.” He grabbed a fresh tissue and started cleaning me up again, his touch so soft I barely felt it. “But it’s on my bucket list.”
“Bucket list? Aren’t you a little young for one of those?”
“Poor choice of words,” he said with a smile. “Love is something I want to find.
I’m not sure I’ve ever felt it, though. I can’t remember my parents very well, so I’m not sure if they loved me or not. And I feel more disdain for my grandfather than affection or even respect. As for romantic love…” He shrugged. “Ask me again in a few years.”
The door opened, and Dad walked in. When he saw Remington taking care of me, his blue-gray eyes narrowed. My friend stood as Dad entered the room, the blood-soaked tissues still in his hand.
“Let’s go, Vi,” Dad said, his brow wrinkled as he frowned from me to Remington and back again.
I took the bloody tissues from Remington’s hand. “Thanks.”
“Call me if you need to talk.”
“I…might do that.” I picked up my purse and phone and followed Dad out of the room.
No sooner had we gotten in the car than he was grilling me. “Who the hell was that guy?”
“He’s my friend.” I stuffed my phone in my purse when I saw it light up again and pulled on my seat belt.
“Does Luca know you have a guy friend?”
I didn’t even flinch at the sound of my ex’s name and was thankful the numbness had descended on me again. “He knows I talk to Remington.”
“Okay, then,” he muttered unhappily. Then his gaze dropped to my mouth. “Looks like we’re going to the emergency room to get you stitched up.”
“Doesn’t Mom know?”
“She’s going to meet us there,” he said as he backed up. “You should go ahead and tell Luca now since you might not be able to talk later.”
“He already knows,” I lied and turned my gaze out the window. I should have just told Dad right then that we broke up, but I couldn’t.
Maybe I wanted to protect Luca for a little longer.
Maybe I had a sick hope that it was all just a really bad dream and he hadn’t really cheated on me.
Maybe I was a delusional idiot who was a glutton for pain.
Either way, I wasn’t ready to tell the world or my parents that the guy I’d always planned on spending my entire life with had destroyed my fucking soul.
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The thing about having such a tight-knit family was that everyone always seemed to know your business. Sometimes even before you knew it yourself.
