AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His laugh is bitter and completely devoid of humor. “Come on, Catarina. You know as well as I do that the dates were all for show. Why else take me to a country club, or put me in a tux and parade me in front of the governor, if not to humiliate me?”
“Barrett. This is ridiculous.” I’m starting to get angry along with really, really afraid that he isn’t going to hear me out.
“It’s worse than that. It’s a betrayal.”
My anger steps into first place. “You’re damn right this is a betrayal. How can you believe I faked anything with you? I resisted you as long as I could. You were the one chasing me!”
“You’re right. I chased you around like a desperate puppy. You kept me on a very short leash. You found my soft underbelly. And then you exposed me.”
“I turned my life upside down for you!” I’m vaguely aware of a few passersby watching our argument. Hot wind blows against my face, and only then do I notice the dampness on my cheeks.
“Was it hard for you to fake your feelings for me, Catarina? Or was it part of the job?”
“Fuck you, Fox!” The world swims out of focus.
“We did that already,” he replies coolly.
I lean forward, practically standing on his shoes. “It was Mia, you stubborn asshole. She was the one who outed you in the column. I had nothing to do with it. I didn’t know what she wrote until I read it this morning!”
“Mia?” His eyebrows lower in confusion as some of the rage seeps from his expression. “How?”
“That was a question I would’ve answered before you accused me of faking everything we did together. Before you pointed out that I’m a heartless workaholic who’s too good to fall in love with a dyslexic football player!”
I now understand what dating him must have been like for Beth. Having experienced that gentle part of him only to have him rip it away is agonizing. He didn’t give me the benefit of the doubt or the courtesy of explaining myself, even after what we’ve been through together. It’s not only insulting. It’s heartbreaking.
“I didn’t wreck you, Fox. You wrecked me. Just now. All the way.”
His eyes mist over, his mouth frozen open in silence. I ignore him and stomp to my car. I have no idea where to go, but anywhere’s better than here. Fox follows me across the lot, but I shut myself in the car.
Once I’m settled into the sun-soaked interior, I’m forced to put the windows down or suffocate.
“Kitty Cat.” He leans on the edge of the passenger window. “Hang on.”
“I hung on, Barrett. I hung on for dear life during this ride. You were the one who kicked me off. You were the one who came here with fire in your belly, and only yourself in mind. You wanted to make sure I hurt the way you’re hurting. Congratulations. You did it. I thought I knew you. I convinced myself that your ex-girlfriend was the crazy one.”
The pain in my heart doubles when his face hardens. “It’s a two-way street.”
“I suggest you contact Mia and get your facts straight.” I start the car and jerk it into gear. “Now get the hell away from my car.”
To my surprise he pulls his hands off the window frame. I tear out of the lot, with no destination in mind and fresh hurt ripping apart my insides.
Chapter 30
Present Day
Barrett
“So now you’re caught up,” I tell Beth. Her expression is pure sympathy with a healthy dash of—
“Oh, Bare.”
That.
“Told you I fucked up.”
“You really did.”
“Thanks. That’s helpful.”
