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My pulse quickened with hurt. “Are you serious?”
He threw the car in park, but his gaze didn’t turn to meet mine. Instead, he stared straight ahead and looked consumed by his thoughts. “He shouldn’t have found out like that.” Irritation seemed to grow inside him until it spilled across his face. “You knew I was going to be with him all night. Did you not think about that? It was almost like you wanted us to get caught.”
Was he fucking joking?
“Of course I didn’t.” My hurt morphed into anger. “You’re blaming me for this? You didn’t have to check your phone. When I sent that text, I thought you’d be too busy, and you wouldn’t look at it until later.”
“I’m not blaming you.” Although he clearly was. “I’m just pointing out how it would have been better if we hadn’t gotten caught.”
Even though we were seated beside each other, the distance between us suddenly felt enormous. The handsome man I’d fallen for seemed to vanish right before my eyes. He was replaced by a boy who looked a hell of a lot like the cocky jerk I’d had a stupid crush on once.
Maybe he was upset and taking it out on me, which wasn’t fair, but I—
Wait a minute.
Was he trying to get me to break up with him, so he didn’t have to choose?
I couldn’t stop the bitterness inside me from crawling out. “Maybe it would have been better if we hadn’t gotten together at all.”
Hurt sliced through his expression. “You don’t mean that.”
“You say you want me, but you need your business and friendship with him, so let me make it easier on you.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “You know which one to choose. You know which one makes sense.”
“No,” he argued. “I shouldn’t have to choose. I’ll talk to him again, and I’ll get him to—”
“It’s fine,” I lied. “I understand why you can’t pick me.”
Chaos burned in his eyes. “Just wait a minute.”
“Maybe your original assessment was right.” I stared at his lips because it hurt too much to look at him directly. “I’m probably too much of a good girl to be with you.”
“Bullshit.”
“Is it? What about all the stuff Colin said? It’s better if we cut our losses now.”
He raked a frustrated hand through his hair. “That shit he told you. I’m not the same guy I used to be.”
“I believe you, but can’t you see there’s no way to win here? I think it’s best if you take me out of the equation.”
His eyes widened with realization. “Are you trying to break up with me?”
“No.” My pulse raced, and my heart went out of rhythm as I reached for the door handle. “I am breaking up with you.”
Preston could have fought for us, but as he’d done in my brother’s apartment, he fell silent, and it confirmed everything. Our break-up was the outcome he didn’t want, but it was the one he needed.
I got out of the car and was surprised when he followed suit. He pushed his door shut with a loud thud, and all the emotions I’d been holding inside me threatened to escape.
“Where are you going?” I demanded. “You’re not allowed inside.”
His focus darted to the front door like he was checking to see if a no trespassing sign was stretched over it. He didn’t find one, but his gaze went narrow. “Then, get back in my car so we can talk about this.”
My legs were wobbly, and I knew if I didn’t get into the safety of my house, I might cave. I’d let the selfish part of me take over and I’d plead with him to pick me, even though it was the wrong choice. No one wanted us together, and how long would it be before he began to resent me for that?
How long before he blamed me for ruining his life?
“No,” I whispered, moving toward the front door.
He chased after me for a few steps, stopping at the base of the patio steps. “You want to break up? Fine. But we made a deal, and this isn’t over until we finish it.”
