“That’s what I said.” I stand firm.
“All because of him?” he says, sneering at Jax. “You slummed it with this redneck and now you think he’s better for you than me?” he asks, sounding offended. “How long have you even known him?”
“That’s not …”
Chett laughs. “Oh, you’ve just met,” he says, looking between us. “So it’s been what, like a few days?” He laughs bitterly. “You’re throwing away nine years for a guy you just met? That’s pathetic, Sloane. Even for you.”
“Watch it,” Jax warns, and there’s real danger in his voice now.
“Or what? You going to hit me? Go ahead. I’ll have you arrested for assault.”
“Chett, just leave,” I plead. “This doesn’t have to get ugly.”
“It’s already ugly. You’ve embarrassed me.” He runs his hands through his hair. “You’re standing here in another man’s shirt, in a cabin in the middle of nowhere, and you’re telling me we’re over?”
“You want to talk about ugly?” Anger floods through me, hot and sharp. “Let’s talk about walking in on you fucking Brittany over our kitchen counter.”
Chett has the audacity to roll his eyes. “This again. You’re like a broken record, Sloane. Brittany was a mistake. I’m sorry you walked in and saw what you saw. I can’t change that. But this …” he waves his hand around, “is worse.”
I’m genuinely shocked. “Why, because it’s me?”
“Exactly. Men are known to let off steam once in a while, but women …”
That misogynistic asshole. “I deserved better.”
“And you think he’s that person?” Chett sneers at Jax. “Some random guy who was probably just looking for an easy lay?”
Jax takes a step in front of me. “Watch your fucking mouth.”
“Oh, I’m scared.” Chett mocks.
“Jax has been more honest with me in these three days than you were in nine years,” I shoot back.
Chett’s face twists with rage. “You know what? Fuck you, Sloane. Fuck you and your self-righteous bullshit. You want to throw away everything we had for some redneck? Fine. But don’t come crawling back when you realize what a mistake you made.”
“I won’t,” I say firmly. “Because the only mistake I made was staying with you as long as I did.”
“You’re going to regret this.” His voice is cold now. “You think you’re going to find better? You’re delusional. You’re going to end up alone and miserable, and you’ll realize I was the best thing that ever happened to you.”
“Get out,” Jax says, and this time it’s not a suggestion. “Now.”
“Or what?”
“Or I’ll remove you myself. And trust me, you don’t want that.”
There’s something in Jax’s stance, in the set of his shoulders, that must finally get through to Chett. He takes a step back.
“This isn’t over,” he says, looking at me. “We’re not over.”
“Yes, we are.” I wrap my arms around myself. “We’re done, Chett. Really done. Please don’t contact me again.”
“You’re making a huge mistake,” he calls out.
“The only mistake was you.” For a moment, I think he’s going to say something else. Do something. But then he just shakes his head and storms out, slamming the door behind him so hard the windows rattle.
The silence that follows is deafening.
I stand there, shaking, unable to move. Unable to process what just happened. Then Jax is there, pulling me into his arms, and I break. I sob into his chest, my whole body trembling.
