There’s a hint of pride in his voice that makes me want to vomit.
“So, you decided to what? Split us up, take me for yourself?”
He shrugs, and my hands ball into fists.
“It worked, didn’t it?”
“Did it?” I hiss. “You just said yourself, I never got over losing Jax.”
His shoulders slump, and he becomes unnaturally still.
He inhales before closing and reopening his eyes.
“You’re right.” His eyes move to his hands. Hands that are clasped together in his lap. “As I said in my letter, you never looked at me the way you looked at him. However much I thought I could step into his shoes, it didn’t take me long to realise I was never going to replace Jaxson in your heart.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose, pressure building behind my eyes.
“I’m sorry, Kat. If I could change it…”
“Would you?”
He looks up at me, and I see the truth in his eyes.
“No, probably not. I would have always wondered. I’m a selfish bastard. I wanted you, and took you when you were at a weak point, thought that would be enough. I hoped you could and would learn to love me. I’ve realised, however much you might want it to be different, love can’t be forced.”
I drop into one of the chairs opposite.
“I’m sorry too. If I’d known how you felt. I would never have asked you to be my plus-one.”
Zach gets up.
“But you didn’t. You were blind to my feelings. Your head had been completely turned by someone else.”
I can’t deny his words, so I remain silent.
“I’m going to go.” He inclines his head. “Iamsorry, Kat.”
“Me too,” I say, the fight having left me.
He moves to the door, his hand resting on the handle.
“Jax was here earlier.”
My head shoots up. “When?”
“When you were getting changed.”
“And you’re only just telling me this now?”
Zach shrugs, and I notice the hardness that has returned to his eyes.
“I’m a selfish bastard, what more can I say?”
“Just go,” I say, a wave of exhaustion taking over.
“He doesn’t deserve you, you know.”
“What are you talking about?”
