Just a few minutes longer.
They don't get the pleasure of seeing me break.
And I will. I’ll splinter into a million irretrievable shards, never fitting the same way again.
Sometimes, even strong people break, and the broken find strength.
It’s time to end this for good.
Rianna’s fingers are still tangled in his hair, and the fact that he lets her makes my teeth clench with rage.
Oh, fuck this.
I storm over without thinking, seize a fistful of her hair, and swing my other hand into her face. Rianna crumples to the ground, sobbing and clutching her nose as blood seeps between her fingers. Her cries fill the room, breaking up the tense silence.
A twisted smile tugs at my lips as I watch bright red drops slip between her fingers.
Her hands are out of his hair now.
"The least you could do is look at me, coward," I snap at the top of his head.
Huh. Looks like someone else’s light just went out. Poor, poor Keaton Carr.
"Just in case it wasn't already clear, we're over. Eight years together and sixteen years of friendship...gone. I warned you about her, Keaton, even when I still didn't trust her shitty sob story. It didn't matter to you.Ididn't matter. Iwasso deeply in love with you. It's funny how quickly that leaves."
"No," he whispers, his voice cracked and broken.
I smile at him sadly. "Yes. My heart is empty right now. I hope it was worth it. You didn't just destroy our relationship." I smack a palm against my chest. "Me, Keaton. You fucking annihilated me. But you don't get to see that. I'll leave, erase you from my life, heal, and move forward. You, though," I pause, reaching to cup his cold cheek. "You get to live knowing you broke us.For her.For someone you called a platonic friend. I hope it eats at you every day, wondering where I am, what I'm doing." My fingers drift to his chin, and I grasp it tightly as I lean closer and whisper, "Who I'm doing," before letting go and wiping my hand against my leg. "Stay with her, Keaton. She obviously means more to you. I'm going to pack my things. At least respect me that much. Give me time, then do whatever you want."
I take them both in one last time and toss a grenade to further damage their little world. "You might want to get an STD test done, Carr. At David's party two weeks ago, she had a train run on her by six other dudes, and a few of them went unprotected. I overheard Jacob Williams bitching to one of the other dudes about getting tested because there was a milky discharge coming from his peen, and his nuts were swollen. Just in case you didn't pay attention in health class, those are all symptoms of chlamydia."
His eyes widen in horror as he whips his head toward her. Her face turns crimson, her ugly eyes brimming with guilt.
Ah, the consequences of your actions.
Satisfaction never tasted so sweet.
It’s the truth, too. There’s nothing wrong with sleeping around, but the smart move is to use protection or get tested first. Keaton’s about to learn that lesson the hard way if Jacob was telling the truth.
I can’t stay here another second.
My steps toward the door are shaky, my body trembling, but before I collapse, Amelia is there, her arm steady around my waist.
"Just a few minutes longer, Char," she whispers. "I've got you."
The pool house door clicks shut behind us, and only then do I double over and vomit.
"G-g-get me home," I stammer, teeth chattering.
We're almost out the side gate when David comes strutting up to us and blocks our way.
"Move."
Amelia’s bark jolts me so hard I nearly stumble. I’ve never heard her sound like that.
David steps up to me and reaches out to cup my cheek. "I know you think I'm an asshole, Char. I normally am, but I wasn't intentionally being one this time. You needed to know, and you'd only believe it if you saw it. I'm sorry that you're in pain. I'd never want that for you, but you deserve better. You deserve to be put first, and as long as she is around, you'd never have that."
"Oh, how selfless of you. You were just doing it out of the kindness of your black heart, huh?" Amelia snarls.
