“Let’s go,” I say.
And with that, he leads me out of the venue and straight to a taxi.
Chapter Sixteen
HALSEY
I can barely fucking breathe.
The city of Vancouver races by me as I stare out the window, telling myself to calm the fuck down, but I can’t seem to flip the switch.
Seeing Perry pressing Blakely up against the wall fucking did me in.
My entire being went black, and before I knew what I was doing, I pressed him up against a wall, ready to plow my fist into his stupid fucking face.
And there is no reasoning behind it other than I was jealous.
I couldn’t stand the idea of him being near her. Of him being able to reconcile any sort of feelings with her.
Because he left.
He was the idiot who decided to take a new job that took himawayfrom her.
He was the one who fucked up and left the door open for me to slip in.
A door I’ve struggled getting through.
I’ve faltered. I’ve made mistakes. And I’ve put myself so far into the friend zone that I can do very little to get myself out of it.
Tonight was supposed to be that night.
And there he was, attempting to tell her how much he missed her.
Fuck off, Perry. You had your chance; tonight was mine.
But . . . I think I screwed it up even more. Blakely has been staring out the window beside me, probably regretting she had to leave her friend’s wedding since I couldn’t keep my emotions in check.
She should be snuggling into me. Holding my hand. Letting me touch her and kiss her. Listening to how I truly feel about her.
Instead, I’m an angry fucking asshole thrumming with the need to do something reckless, something to distract me from the regret beating through me.
When we pull up to the apartment, I thank the driver and open the door. Blakely does the same, not letting me do it for her.
I can’t be sure what she’s feeling right now, what she’s thinking.
Whatever it is, it can’t be anything positive about me.
In silence, I open the apartment building door for her and then follow close behind, resting my hand on her lower back as I guide her toward the elevator.
Fuck, I hate myself.
I hate myself for not being able to control my anger.
For not being able to ignore Perry and enjoy Blakely.
My time was cut short because I cut it short. I could be dancing with her right now—her body pressed against mine andher hands roaming my chest, something she did a few times tonight.
Instead, we’re as cold as stone toward each other as we ride the elevator up to the apartment.
