I whirl around and march for the door, ignoring every pair of eyes burning into my back.
Let them stare. I don’t owe anyone here a damn thing.
My hands tremble, so I cross my arms tight over my chest, fists clenched to keep the shaking at bay.
Once we’re outside, I spin around and square up to Alek, toe to toe. Something I haven’t done since our last big blowout before we moved in together.
“I’m not excusing a damn thing, Alek. If you’d actually cheated, I’d call your ass out right here. From what you said, you were frozen, couldn’t even push her away. I’m not your biggest fan right now, but honestly, I’m furious at her. So mad I want to drag her out by her hair. Do I really need to spell this out for you?”
“No,” he growls. “But it still doesn’t mean I don’t feel like I did.”
My shoulders sag, and I fold in on myself. “Alek,” I say, my voice small and tired. “I’m not here to tell you how to feel. The truth is, our problems run deeper than this. I appreciate your honesty, but I already knew.”
“Fucking Reggie,” he mutters.
I shrug. “It doesn’t matter how I found out. Like I said, our issues go way deeper. Not once did I ever come first to her. Never, Alek. Do you know what it’s like to feel like a placeholder in someone’s life? Your words are hard to trust when your actions always say something else. I’m worth more than being second best. I know what I deserve. I lost myself in you for three years and have nothing to show for it. That’s heartbreaking. And you know what’s wild? I was never insecure about Charlie, the one you actually slept with. But with Jerica, whom you claim was just a friend, you always made me feel like I was less. I don’t know if your words will ever mean anything to me again. They’re just pretty sentences unless you back them up with real actions.”
“Give me the chance to show you then.”
He steps closer, and even though every part of me wants to collapse into his arms, I stand my ground, refusing to let him see me waver.
Alek’s fingers trace softly down my cheek, his touch gentle and full of longing. “Let me prove to you it’s always been you.”
Titan stands against the bricks of the building, his arms folded over, watching us curiously.
I shuffle my feet, twisting my hands together, trying to process what he’s asking of me.
I love Alek. That’s never been the issue. Loving him meant swallowing a lot of pain I shouldn’t have. I was always the one fighting for us, so part of me wants to let him take up the battle now. But I’m not sure I have the strength to risk my heart again.
There’s one thing I need to know first.
“Why?” I ask.
“What?” he replies.
“Why? Why do you want the chance to prove it so badly?”
Alek goes pale, fear flickering in his eyes, but he doesn’t flinch. He lifts his chin and meets my gaze head-on.
“Because I love you.”
I stand frozen, trembling, staring at him without really seeing. His words sink deep, but instead of the joy I always imagined, all I want to do is run.
He waits for a response, but I have nothing to give. My mind is blank, so I just shake my head and slowly back away.
“Hayvin?” he says, worry filling his eyes.
He steps toward me, and I jerk away so fast I nearly fall, but Titan catches me just in time.
“Hayvin. Baby girl,” he whispers.
His voice is thick with sorrow, and I ache to comfort him, to say we’re both okay. But I can’t. Something inside me is broken, and I’m terrified.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, turning away from him and hurrying towards my car.
Titan stops me before I can get in, his warm hands cradling my face, grounding me. “I’m taking you home.”
“Your bike,” I croak.
