“No. But you broke up with Maksim.”
His admission sent me staggering back. “Who told you that?”
“He did.”
“Why were you talking to him?” I demanded.
“I texted him to see if he would come watch Batman with me. But he said he couldn’t because he didn’t want to upset you because you two aren’t together anymore.”
I fought the urge to castrate Maksim at that moment. Deep down, I knew there was nothing wrong with what he had said, but I hated for him to have upset Sammy.
With a ragged sigh, I said, “He’s right. It would upset me. Maksim hurt my feelings really badly, and I don’t want to see or talk to him.”
“Ever?” Sammy questioned incredulously.
“Ever,” I murmured.
To my utter horror, he burst into tears. “But he was my friend!”
“I know that, but you have other friends.”
“Friends like me, but not like him.”
My heart ached for him because I knew he was right. There weren’t many people like Maksim, especially men. Most were caught up in their own lives and didn’t have the time or energy to devote to someone who wasn’t exactly on their intellectual level.
“I’m sorry, Sammy. But he did something very bad.”
“Did he tell you he was sorry?”
“Yes, but that doesn’t make it okay.”
“But you always tell me if someone says they’re sorry, I have to accept it.”
I rubbed my eyes. “I wish it were that simple with me and Maksim.”
“It could be if you’d just try.”
The frayed strands of my sanity snapped in that moment. The heartache, the sleepless nights, and all the pain converged on that one moment.
Throwing up my hands, I shouted, “You’re never going to understand why because it’s totally beyond you, okay?”
Oh God. I shouted at Sammy. I’d not only shouted, but I’d said something unforgivable.
As his face crumpled, I threw my hands over my mouth. “Oh, Sammy, I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“I know I don’t get some big people stuff, but I’m not stupid.”
“No, you’re not. I was so, so wrong to say that.”
He shook his head angrily. “You’re being stubborn to protect yourself. But it’s too much. It’s making you say mean things you would never say.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks. “You do understand.”
His finger pointed at the door. “No go. I don’t want to talk to you until you’re not mean anymore.”
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Sweetface. I’ll never forgive myself.”
“You better. And you better forgive Maksim.”
