Page 165 of Fame & Chaos

Crying, I clutch the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white. Then, once the last bit of fury drains from me, I drop my forehead against it and break apart completely, my grip loosening as the floodgates open even wider.

He has destroyed me.

I was so hesitant about getting into this relationship with him. So confused. I wanted him more than anything, but I knew exactly what he was like. This outcome was inevitable, and I should have listened to my gut instead of my stupid heart. Now my heart feels dead, and I only have myself to blame.

I keep crying against the steering wheel, feeling more lost than I’ve ever been in my life. My entire world is crashing down around me, and nothing can repair the gaping hole burning through my chest. Nothing can undo the damage Caleb McCormack-Slade has caused me… yet again.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

I jump violently and look up to find Caleb outside my car window, knocking impatiently against the glass. My face screws up as fresh tears spill down my cheeks, and he frowns before shaking his head.

“Indi, please, just let me explain,” he yells through the window.

“There’s nothing to explain, Caleb. Leave me alone!” I scream as I start the car.

Panic flashes across his face as he grabs the door handle and tries to open it, but I locked it the second I got in. He tugs at it in frustration while I start crying harder.

Groaning, he rests his forehead against the window. “Indi, listen to me, please. I slept with her, yes, but—”

“That’s all I needed to know. Goodbye, Caleb.”

I start pulling away, but another car swings in front of me, blocking the exit.

“No, Indi, wait. Goddammit, will you just listen?”

“No. Fuck off, Caleb. Don’t call me, and don’t come to my house, or I’ll have you arrested. I swear to God, leave me alone or I’ll never talk to you again.”

His eyes widen before the tension in his face softens slightly. “So… you will talk to me again then?”

I mentally slap myself for saying that. “If you leave me alone,” I snap, desperate to get rid of him.

“Okay. I’ll give you time. But please, give me the chance to explain. Indi… I love you.”

The sound of those three words rips through my chest so painfully that I gasp. Tears pour harder down my cheeks as the other car finally moves away. I lift my gaze to Caleb through tear-soaked lashes. “Move!” I force out.

His shoulders slump before he steps away from the car. I pull out of the parking space and glance in the rearview mirror, watching him stand there while I drive away. My heart pounds so hard I feel lightheaded.

I hate this feeling.

I just left Caleb behind… for the last time.

I can’t keep doing this to myself.

He will never change, and no excuse he gives me will ever be good enough.

I drive too fast all the way home, praying he won’t already be there when I arrive, even though that feels impossible considering he has no way of getting back from the funfair. Pulling into my usual parking spot, I wipe at my cheeks and glance into the mirror. The girl staring back at me is the same broken-hearted, insecure girl from six years ago—the one who loved Caleb with everything she had, only for him to let her down.

I can’t believe I let this happen again.

Climbing from the car, I make my way inside my quiet, cold, empty house. It feels completely different now that Caleb isn’t here. When he was around, it felt warm, safe, like I belonged somewhere. Like I finally had someone to lean on.

But here I am again.

Alone and lost.

Exactly where I was six years ago.

I’m back at square one, and I hate it.