AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I look over at Jett. “See, I made the right decision.” And for a second, I think he’s finally gonna put me out of my misery and hit me. Instead, he grabs my face.
“The fuck, Brett? You love this woman. Do you need me to spell it out for you?”
I pull back, because if he had punched me it would have hurt less.
“Don’t say that.” I point at him, my voice growing louder. “I don’t know what love is.”
“This.” He looks around at the hell I’ve created. “This is love. All of this that you’re feeling islove,Brett. You love Alexandrea. You’re risking everything for her, and you don’t even know it.”
His words buzz around my head like a numerical expression. He doesn’t get it—he can’t.
“Jett.” My voice goes flat. “I’m not you.”
“No, you’re not. You always have to do things the hard way. Push the boundaries. Why did you go to Richard and tell him about Alex if you didn’t want out?”
He grabs the bottle off the island and walks over to me.
“Nothing?” he demands. “No smart answer? You know, Brett, your whole life you’ve been chasing and seeking the ultimate high. Have you ever thought maybe you’ve found it?” He hands me the bottle of Jack.
“Don’t forget, tomorrow at nine o’clock sharp. Wear a suit,” he says over his shoulder as I bring the bottle to my lips.
ALEXANDREA
Staring at my bowl of Cheerios, I force myself to take another bite. Nothing tastes good, nothing feels good. If only I could go back to bed. I’m done crying over him.
Today, I need to drop out of school. I’m throwing in the towel and surrendering. I can’t go there and pretend. It’s not my nature, and as much as I hate the thought of quitting, I need my twin.
I need my family.
Breathing deeply, I glance at my phone next to me.
Just pick it up and call Jude. You need to let him know you’re coming.I take another bite and close my eyes. With all my crying, they feel like someone threw sand in them. And it’s all I can do to breathe through this decision I’m about to make.
Inhale, exhale, it’s like putting one foot in front of the other and getting your ass out of town.
Only I don’t want to go. Leaning my head back, I stare up at the ceiling. Is today actually Friday?
It’s like the last few days have been a horrific dream, almost rendering me numb. I spent Sunday and Monday locked in my room. Tuesday, I made myself get up, take a shower, and pretend I was going to classes, only to drop into bed and cry the rest of that day. Wednesday, I actually made it to my car, where I drove around the block sobbing and screaming at my phone, asking it why he hasn’t texted or called.
Thursday, I didn’t even bother getting out of bed; I just scrolled the Iinternet watching mindless videos, getting angrier, because what the hell?
So I guess that makes it Friday. I grab my phone and press on Jude’s number. Looking out the window, I notice Walter barking at a couple as they walk by.
“Alex, I have ten minutes until class. I called three times last night. What’s going on with you?” I can tell he’s pissed, but I couldn’t talk to him yesterday, considering the condition I was in. He would have freaked.
“Sorry.” I take another deep breath and cross my legs. “I’m kind of in a situation…” Dead silence. Did the call drop?
“Jude?”
“I’m here, go on.” His voice sounds curt.
“I’m thinking that you’re right, and I should come home and go to Ohio State.” My eyes fill with tears at the thought of leaving. How am I going to make it through not seeing him? How do people survive this pain? It seems impossible when all I want to do is call him, beg him to love me.
“Are you pregnant? Is that what all this is about?” Jude’s voice jolts me out of the pity party I’m having in my head.
“What? No, I’m not pregnant.” In a way, I wish I was. At least I’d have some part of him. God, I’m losing it.
“Oh, thank fuck.” He sighs. “Then what the hell, Alex?”
