I scrub my hand down my face. “Will you just shut up and let her talk?”
Her eyes blaze with fury. “What the fuck did you say to me, asshole? You really have a death wish, don’t you?”
Ignoring her, I turn my attention back to Annalise, lacing her fingers with mine. “Come on, Annalise. Can you please give our relationship another chance?”
Annalise pulls her hands from mine, turning away from me. “Just give it up, Maddox. There will never be anusagain.”
“Look me in the eyes, then. Look me in the eyes and tell me you don’t want to be with me. Tell me you don’t love me anymore,” I say, my voice shaking.
Squaring her shoulders, she lifts her eyes to mine. I don’t recognize the empty look staring back at me.
“I don’t love you anymore, Maddox. We’re over. You need to move on with your life.”
And just like that, my world ends once again.
We are over for good. My heart stops beating, and there is no way I can be revived again. Swallowing down the last of my withered pride, I give her a single nod.
“Then I’ll leave you alone.” I pick up my bag and sling itover my shoulder. “I will always love you, Annalise. No matter how much time passes, I will always love you.”
I walk out her apartment hollowed out, an empty shell of who I was. Every hope, every dream I had with her shatters inside me. I did everything in my power to make her feel loved, but I clearly failed since she questioned my loyalty. I put my all into her and it wasn’t enough.
From this day forth, I swear I will never fall in love again or get into a relationship. What’s the fucking point? I’ll just end up getting my heart broken.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
maddox
Tonight ishands down the most embarrassing night of my entire career. I’ve lost games before, but it has never been this bad. Minnesota blew us out of the water and beat us by forty points at home.
Fans started leaving during the first half of the fourth quarter, and we threw out the bench for the rest of the game. Lucas and I have not been playing well together—go figure. Neither of us ever wanted to pass the ball to one another. If we keep playing like this, there’s no way we’ll make it to the championship round, let alone the playoffs.
He isn’t entirely to blame, though. I haven’t been in the right headspace since Annalise and I kissed. I tried turning my emotions off during the game, but it was hard considering the kiss happened less than twenty-four hours ago.
Every time we take one step forward, we take two steps back. It’s giving me whiplash. I was in way over my head thinking everything would be okay after we kissed, but we clearly weren’t on the same page.
I know if I reach out to her, she’ll push me away even further, so I figured it’s best to give her some space.
Despite what she said, I know she doesn’t regret what happened. She wouldn’t have kissed me the way she did. Her body wouldn’t have reacted to my touch the way it did.
“So, how are things going with Annalise?” Chandler asks Lucas. He’s been bonding with Lucas since he joined the Dragons. Even though Lucas and I made it evident that there’s beef between us, only Elijah and Andrés know about our history.
“They’re going really well. We kissed the other week,” Lucas says, loud enough for me to hear. “And man, is she a good kisser.” He glances over at me, shooting me a smug smile.
I roll my eyes as I chug down a bottle of water. I want to wipe that stupid fucking grin off his face and tell him that he definitely wasn’t on her mind when my fingers and tongue were inside her. But I’ll just let him continue to be delusional.
“You’re a lucky man. She really is beautiful,” Chandler says.
“I know. And fuck, that body of hers is smoking. Those tits and that ass. I can’t wait to find out how good she is in bed. I bet she’s a real freak in the sheets.”
Red-hot rage flashes through me. Charging toward Lucas, I pick him up by his jersey and slam him into the lockers.
“What the fuck, Kamado!” Lucas winces, rubbing the back of his head.
“Keep running your mouth about her and see what the fuck happens!”
“Your threats don’t scare me. We all know you’re not going to do anything about it,” he scoffs. “You need to learn how to keep your anger under control. It’s not a good look for an MVP candidate.”
I drop him to the ground, my gaze burning into him. “If I hear you disrespect my girl again, I will fucking end you, Hilton. Annalise isn’t just some girl you take to bed. She’s so much more than that. You don’t deserve her, you piece of shit.”
