The hurt etched on Sadie’s face is the final blow, and I know I’ve officially lost her.
Afterwefinishthepeach cobbler, I’m voluntold to clean up. A well-deserved punishment.
The sink water is scalding but I barely feel it. My head’s somewhere else—replaying every look, every word, every tear.
My hands are submerged in the soapy water when I feel a prickle on the back of my neck.
I glance over my shoulder to find her leaning against the kitchen island, arms crossed tightly over her chest.
Grabbing the dish towel, I dry my hands and turn around to face her. Her eyes narrow, burning as she drags her gaze over me.
I press my lips into a thin line and brace myself for her to ream me out, but she’s silent aside from her steady, deep breaths.
“I’m sorry,” I say, voice low. It’s not enough, but it’s all I have.
Sadie scoffs, her jaw working as she looks away, slowly shaking her head.
Good. She’s angry. Anger, I can handle. Anger is manageable. She can be angry at me for all eternity if it means she’s not crying.
“I don’t want your bullshit apology,” she bites. “I want to knowwhy.”
Her eyes glisten, and it physically hurts to meet them. Those green eyes are my weakness. Eyes I could get lost in forever. Eyes that could bring me to my fucking knees.
And God, it kills me—because she doesn’t even know the power she has over me.
I thought maybe if I looked long enough, I’d find the part of her that wanted me too.
But all I see is betrayal.
I hesitate, not sure what I could say to make this hurt any less.
How do I admit that I’m jealous? That I couldn’t handle another fucking minute seeing someone else have her?
My silence only seems to rile her up more.
“You knew that I was going to tell Heath today.You fucking knew.” She takes a shaky breath. “I don’t understand. Why do you hate me so much? I amfinallygetting a sliver of happiness for once in my life. Why would you try to sabotage it?”
The tears break free and spill down her face, and my heart caves in my chest.
She thinks I hate her.
Even if she deserved, it I don’t think I could bring myself to hate her.
But I do hate Lane.
Hate that he gets to touch her, kiss her, make her laugh. I hate that he’s the one she looks for in a crowded room.
How could she ever think I hate her?
“I don’t hate you,” I murmur.
“Thenwhy?” she pleads, voice trembling.
Fuck it. I’ve already ruined everything else.
“Because it should’ve been me.”
The truth claws its way up my throat before I can stop it. I rake my hand through my hair, exhaling deeply.
