“Melanie is always giving me shit about how I’m a crap father,” Michael mutters. “Always pointing out my flaws. And now you’re—”
“You’re comparing me toher? Are you fucking kidding me?”
A muscle ticks in his neck and his eyes are cold as they move over my face, but he doesn’t deny it.
“Wow.” I swallow hard, realizing just how wrong I was about him. Because if he truly thinks I’m no better than his cruel ex-wife, then he really,reallydoesn’t know me at all.
Fuck, I’m an idiot. Of course there’s no such thing as a happy ending. Why on earth did I think this time would be different?
“Okay. Then I’ll make this easy for you, Michael.” I draw in a shaky breath, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “I choose my writing.”
The anger on his face gives way to alarm. “Alex, wait.”
“You know,” I say bitterly, “I’m surprised you even wanted to be with someone as immature and ridiculous as me in the first place.”
He scrambles out of bed and reaches for his pants. “I didn’t mean—”
“It doesn’t matter. I can’t do this, I’m sorry.” And as I gaze at his handsome face, his pleading eyes and knitted brow, I know Iamsorry—sorry that I can’t be with this beautiful man. But I’m not going to stay with someone who doesn’t understand me or care about the things that matter to me.
With tears escaping down my cheeks, I dash out of his apartment and down the stairs, hoping there might be some way to rescue my career.
41
When I push the front door open, Cat is sitting in the living room and my heart sinks. I haven’t seen her in days and I’d been so eager to talk to her about Mel. But now that’s thelastthing I feel like doing.
I try to slip in quietly and go straight to my bedroom nook, but before I can even get in the door she turns to me, her eyes narrowed to slits.
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
I feel a bolt of shock. “What?”
“How could you do that to Mel?”
With a weary sigh, I lower myself onto the chair next to her and wipe my cheeks. “I… have a lot to tell you.”
“Yes, you do. Honestly, Alex. Mel went to all that trouble to help you with your writing and then you get together withMichael? After everything he did to her?”
I press my fingertips to my eyelids. “First of all, I didn’t know she was his ex-wife.”
“What? I told you at New Year’s.”
“No. I think you weregoingto tell me, then Kyle arrived. Anyway, he didn’t do anything to her. She was the one who cheated on him.”
Cat blinks. “What?”
“Shewas the one who cheated,” I repeat. “Not him. He told me everything.”
“Are you kidding me? You believe him over her?”
“I do, actually, but it doesn’t matter. I made a mistake with him and it’s over.”
She snorts. “Well that doesn’t mean you haven’t hurt Mel. I can’t believe you would do this to her.”
I examine Cat’s face and frustration bubbles up inside me. She’s so loyal to Mel, but Mel doesn’t deserve her loyalty at all. “She’s full of shit, Cat.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
I grit my teeth, suddenly at the end of my rope. This hideous woman has no regard for anyone else’s feelings and somehowI’mthe one being crucified. I can’t believe Michael thinks I’m like her.
