AllFreeNovel
Share Us
There was only one solution.
My heart shattered into pieces when I realized it. But it was the only way.
Tears filled my eyes as I resigned myself to what I had to do. I would do whatever it took to protect Steven. Even if it was unbearably painful.
I rushed out of the bathroom and ran straight into Reed, who was hovering like a vulture, his outstretched hands reaching for me. I brushed past him and ran out of the building.
I sprinted down the sidewalk, my lungs burning and my legs aching. I looked over my shoulder. No one was following me. I slowed to a walk, sucking in air, pressing a hand to the stitch in my side. Every few seconds, I looked over my shoulder, but no one I knew was on the crowded sidewalk. Not Reed. Not Steven.
Still panting, I finally reached my car, hopped in, and drove away.
On the way to my apartment, I tried to come up with a plan. I had to end it between Steven and me. But how?
I thought about calling him or meeting him somewhere, but if I heard his voice or saw him, I would waver, and then I wouldn’t be able to go through with it. Even now, I wasn’t sure I could go through with it at all. Every mile I drove further away from him made the pain in my chest intensify.
My phone rang.
But I didn’t pick up.
I kept driving, pushing through the pain.
I arrived at my apartment, but I couldn’t stay there. Steven knew where I lived. He would come looking for me and I would cave in and he would lose his job.
So, I packed my bags. Not having a lot of things to my name, it didn’t take long.
My phone dinged.
Loverboy:What happened? Are you ok?
My phone rang.
Then dinged.
Then rang.
Then dinged.
I ignored all the messages and ran back to my car with my meager belongings.
I had to end it. But I was still convincing myself of that. Which was hard to admit, even as I was driving away from him. To protect him.
My heart was breaking. Tears blurred my vision.
I couldn’t stay in the city either. Not now. Not yet. If I did, I would lose my resolve and go back. Back to my Wall Street job. Back to my boss. Back to the man I loved.
But it was too risky. Only one of us could stay.
An hour later, I stopped for fuel and checked my phone messages.
There were twenty-one missed calls. Most of them from Steven. Five from Andrew and three from Kenny.
I would listen to the messages later. Instead, I checked my texts.
Andrew:Girl, what’s happening? Cox said Reed upset you. What’s going on, hon?
Where are you? You shouldn’t be alone right now. Let me help you.
What did Reed do to you? Cox is having a fit.
