“Just give me a few minutes. Please, baby girl,” he pleads quietly.
Tears threaten, stinging my eyes, but I clamp them shut. I won’t let him see me break.
Too much.
I’ve already given him too much of me.
With that, I inhale deeply, square my shoulders, and turn to face him. This time, I meet his eyes and let him see everything I’ve been hiding.
Let him see the damage.
Let him see the destruction.
I have to carry it, so he should have to own it.
“No. No, I won’t give you a few minutes, Alek. I gave you enough of my time. Three years to be precise, and look at where that got me. You don’t deserve any more of my life. Chances, Alek. I gave you so many chances to put me first. To choose me. To love me. But you never did. It was always her. You’ve refused to put me first, even when I was begging you to, so it’s up to me to do it. This is me putting myself first, Alek. This is me, lovingmyself. This is me, choosing me. So, no. I won’t give you a few more minutes. I won’t even give you a few more seconds. Go back inside to your girlfriend and your best friend, and leave me the fuck alone.”
“She’s not—”
“I. Do. Not. Care,” I interrupt him. “Get your hand off my door before I call the cops and get you for harassment. You made your choice, Alek. Now, live with it.”
He swallows hard, lets the door go, and steps back. “This isn’t over between us. You’re my choice, Hayvin.”
“Yeah? Well, that’s too bad because you’re no longer mine,” I tell him before slamming the door and shutting him out.
Everleigh came out during mine and Alek’s chat, but I was so focused on getting through it, I didn’t even notice.
She starts the car and backs out of the parking space. “I’m so fucking proud of you, Vinnie,” she says softly. “You didn’t think you were strong enough to do that, but I knew you were. The hardest part is over, baby cakes.”
“Yeah,” I murmur, turning to peer out the window.
Maybe the hardest part is behind me, but the pain still slices deep. It’s a warning about letting love in too close, especially with someone like Alek. I thought Titan taught me that lesson years ago, but this time, the heartbreak cuts even deeper.
I loved Titan with a girl’s heart. Alek took the woman’s. Now my heart is so bruised, I’m surprised it still beats at all.
This isn’t over between us.
Alek’s words haunt me. There was something in his tone that warns me of the upcoming fight I’m going to have on my hands.
What I don’t understand is why?
Why now?
He has everything he’s wanted. She’s here now, and she’s single. And from what I saw tonight, she’s his for the taking.
So, why tell me it isn’t over between us when it’s so obvious that it is?
Realizations are a Bitch
Alek
Hayvin'swordsfromacouple of days ago continue to linger in my mind throughout the day.
Her tone left no room for hope. When she said I wasn't her choice anymore, her voice slammed the door shut on us for good.
Seeing her and Everleigh walk into Grinders lit a spark of hope in me. Finally, a chance to talk to her after all this time away helping David and Jerica.
But I managed to screw things up before I even spoke. My mind was somewhere else when David asked if I wanted to eat with him and Jerica. And I didn't think twice about sliding into the booth beside her instead of grabbing a chair, knowing full well David would keep to himself.
