Page 33 of Happily Ever Never

“We all are. Now, go fix it. That way, Brooke can stopyelling at me.”

I looked around and wondered what the fuckhad just happened and what the hell I was supposed to do.

Chapter 9

May

Maybe I had overreacted. Or perhaps I was exhausted.

Of everything.

I was just so flabbergasted that he would say that. That Iwas off-limits. That I wasn’t worth kissing. Or whatever the hell he had said.At this point, I didn’t even remember the exact words he’d used. All I could rememberwere his lips on mine and then him walking away.

And here I was, feeling like I was making mistake after mistakeand not knowing what I was doing.

I started my laundry, turning on permanent press with coldwater because I didn’t feel like sorting.

What was wrong with me?

That was a loaded question. I didn’t want to think aboutwhat was wrong with me because then I’d have to wonder why nobody seemed towant me.

Because they didn’t. They kept running away from me.

As if I were a leper.

Someone who wasn’t good enough for them.

Perhaps I was being a little melodramatic, but Leo hadkissed me and then said it was a mistake.

That I wasn’t for him.

Screw that.

I was so tired of feeling like I wasn’t good enough. Thatevery time I tried, it wasn’t enough. And I was putting so much energy andfocus into this. And all for a promise I had made to my dad. It made no sense.I didn’t even want a happily ever after anymore. How could I? Not when I nevereven made it to a second date.

They either didn’t show up, treated me like crap, went for their former loves, or there just wasn’t aspark. In the end, I ended up with friends or nothing. I would have to be finewith that.

But I didn’t know why I felt such disappointment when itcame to Leo. I didn’t even know him all that well. But the parts that I did? Iliked those—or at least I had.

My doorbell rang, and I frowned, making my way toward thefront door. My phone was on the counter, so I couldn’t look at the securityvideo to see who it was. I looked through the peephole instead and froze.

I swallowed hard and looked down at what I wore—gray shortswith bleach stains on the edges, no socks or shoes,only a toe ring. I had on a sports bra and two tank tops, my hair piled on thetop of my head.

I looked ridiculous.

And yet it wasn’t like I could leave him standing out there.

I could, but I wouldn’t. I was a little nervous that he knewwhere I lived. There had to be a logical explanation for this. I could leave,walk away, and not let him in. But then things would be even weirder. Plus, Iwas angry.

So, I opened the door and scowled. “What are you doinghere?”

Leo winced. “I should have expected that. It’s kind of weirdthat we live in the same neighborhood, and I’ve never seen you.”

“I just moved here to be closer to Brooke’s house. Which isgood because now I’m closer to Sebastian’s. How did you find out where I live?”I asked, worry settling over me.

“I coaxed it out of Brooke. But that was only because shesaid if I did anything to hurt you, she would castrate me, and I believed her.She would hurt me. So would everybody else. And I would deserve it formaking you feel bad. So, yes, she told me where you live so I could come hereand grovel and say I’m sorry. I swear I’m not a stalker.”

“I…what are you doing here, Leo?” Why was my heart racing?He couldn’t be here. Not now. Not when it felt like I was living outside of mybody and trying to figure out where I was and who I needed to be.