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“You asshole!” she seethed, standing her ground. “What do you think you’re doing? You think you can string me along all these years—”
“Let’s get one thing straight, sweetheart. I’ve always been crystal fucking clear about who I am—”
“Yeah! The guy who doesn’t do relationships! But here you are! Fucking engaged!” She shoved me. “To my roommate!”
“Evie, I’m sor—”
“Screw you and your apologies, Caleb! That’s how I find out you’re getting married?! At my birthday party?!”
With a heavy heart and a guilty conscience, I coaxed, “I didn’t know she was going to do that.”
“So that makes it better? Because you didn’t know?”
“What do you want me to say, Evie? What can I possibly express to you that will change what I have to do?”
“What does that even mean? Why do you have to do anything?”
Nothing I could tell her would take away the pain she was experiencing, so I kept my mouth shut.
“Fine! How about you start with the truth? How long have you been with her? I didn’t even know—”
“It’s not like that.”
“Then how is it? Or what? You’re just getting married for the hell of it?” she scoffed in disgust. “I can’t believe you. You’re the most unattainable man on the planet! Trust me, I would know!”
“Evie, I never meant to hurt you.”
“Bullshit! You don’t think I deserved a phone call, a text message, a fucking email! Something! Anything other her blindsiding me at my own party? I didn’t even know she was your girlfriend, and now she’s your fiancée! What the hell, Caleb?”
“I’ve never lied to you. Just think about it for a minute. I don’t do relationships. Specifically, ones with my clients’ siblings.”
“Isn’t it a little late to play that card?”
“It’s not a cop out, Evie. It’s the truth. I’ve been telling you this for years, and you haven’t given a shit! Your brother isn’t just another client of mine. He’s my best friend, and we both know he’d have a huge fucking problem if he ever found out about us. He has you up on a pedestal, and I’d never be good enough for you.” I paused, allowing the truth to sink in.
“I’ve spent the last eight years warning him not to shit where he eats. I’m the worst fucking hypocrite, considering I’ve been devouring every inch of you.”
“Yeah, I’m your dirty little secret.”
“That’s not true.”
“All I know is what you tell me. It’s all I have. It’s all I’ve ever had.” Her eyes rimmed with tears as she narrowed her gaze at me. “Do you love her?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It does to me.”
“It shouldn’t.”
“Stop telling me how to feel, Caleb! It’s bullshit!”
I yanked my hair back, wanting to tear it the fuck out.
“I don’t understand. Please make me understand. You owe me that much, don’t you think?”
I couldn’t help myself, stepping forward to stand right in front of her face and to my surprise she didn’t step away.
“I’m an asshole, Evie. I’m a selfish fucking prick. I’ve done some really shitty things to you, but it ends now. We were never together, I promised you nothing, and I’ve kept my word.”
