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“Zach, you know I value our friendship,” I begin, ignoring Hayden’s snort. “You mean a lot to me, which is why I can’t do this anymore. We don’t fit. As hard as we try, we just don’t fit.”
“What are you saying?”
“You know what I’m saying. I said it to you inside the restaurant. We’re done.”
His top lip lifts at the corner into a snarl. “After six years together?”
“Two,” I correct, reaching forward to take his hand. “I’m sorry you’re upset. It was never my intention. But this is over now. We’re done.”
“Why, though? I know you better than anyone ever will, and I still stuck around.”
“Zach, you don’t really know me.”
“Yes, I do,” he argues.
“Then why did you cancel my plans with my family?” I demand.
“Because it’s our anniversary.”
“No, it’s my birthday. You’ve known me a long time and you know my birthday is special to my parents. I was a premature baby, and my mum and dad could have lost me. But besides that, you should know no one will ever come before them.”
“Not no one. You mean me. Your mum likes me, so it’s your dad who has put you up to this. This has come out of nowhere,” he comments, his eyes narrowing on Hayden. “And I bet it was you who turned him against me.”
“I gave you so many signs, Zach, so many that this wasn’t working and to give you a chance to fix things.”
“And you lost her dad’s respect when you purposely made her late for curfew,” Hayden supplies in a bitter tone.
He gazes at me, his expression scrunched up in a plea. “Please don’t do this.”
“I’m sorry, Zach, I truly am, but I’m sure about this. From the moment I said I was done in there, a weight has been lifted. I’ve put so much pressure on myself to make this work, to feel what you feel, but it’s too much. I care for you, Zach. You are one of my closest friends. But I can’t be in a relationship with you anymore.”
“There’s someone else, isn’t there?”
I let go of his hand, hurt by the accusation. “What?”
“It’s fucking him, isn’t it?”
My eyes widen at the aggression in his tone. “Who?”
“That criminal. The one who is always sniffing around you.”
Hayden coughs into her fist. “He means Ben.”
“Ben isn’t a criminal,” I respond in his defence.
Zach laughs. “Yeah, he is. You’re such a fool. He’s had the wool pulled over your eyes for years now.”
“What are you talking about?”
“He’s a thief. He got caught and had to pay for his mistakes, so he worked for your dad.”
“Has anyone told you recently that you’re a dick,” Hayden spits out, pulling me closer to her side.
“What do you know?” I ask her, since she doesn’t seem as surprised as I do.
Hayden squeezes my arm. “Your dad’s car was stolen and Ben was found by the police with it. But it’s not what you think. He had no choice.”
Zach laughs harder. “Don’t make excuses for him. No one is forced to do anything.”
