Kent’s expression softened slightly. “It is worth fighting for. That’s why I came back.”
“No.” I shook my head, bitter laughter bubbling up in my throat. “You didn’t come back to fight for us. You came back tosee if you could have your cake and eat it too. If you could keep your perfect relationship with Brittany and still get to fuck me on the side.”
“That’s not?—”
“Get out,” I said, my voice suddenly ice cold. “Get the fuck out of my apartment and don’t come back.”
Kent stared at me, disbelief written all over his face. “James, come on. You don’t mean that.”
“I’ve never meant anything more in my life.” I walked to the door and yanked it open. “We’re done. Whatever this was between us, it’s over.”
“You can’t just?—”
“I can and I am.” I met his eyes, letting him see all the hurt and betrayal I felt. “You know what the saddest part is? I actually thought you’d changed. I thought you were becoming someone better. But you’re still the same selfish asshole you’ve always been.”
Kent’s jaw tightened, his hands curling into fists at his sides. “Fine,” he spat. “If that’s how you want it.”
“It’s not what I want,” I said quietly. “It’s what you deserve.”
The words hung between us like a physical thing, heavy and final. I watched Kent’s face go through a series of emotions, anger, hurt, and disbelief, before finally settling into that cold mask I remembered from our teenage years.
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” he said, his voice devoid of emotion. “I thought you of all people would understand.”
“Understand what? That you want me to be your dirty little secret?” I laughed bitterly. “I spent years hiding who I am. Years being ashamed of myself because people like you made me feel like there was something wrong with me. And now you want me to go back into the closet for you? To be the person you fuck when no one’s looking?”
Kent flinched at my words but didn’t deny them.
“Get lost, Kent,” I said, suddenly exhausted. “Go back to Brittany. Go back to pretending.”
He hesitated in the doorway, looking like he wanted to say something else. For a moment, I thought he might fight for me, might tell me I was wrong. But then his shoulders slumped in defeat.
“Goodbye, James,” he said quietly, and then he was gone.
I slammed the door behind him and leaned against it, sliding down until I hit the floor. The tears I’d been holding back finally came, hot and angry, streaming down my face. I pulled my knees to my chest and let myself break apart completely.
I don’t know how long I sat there crying. Long enough that my legs went numb and my throat felt raw. Long enough that the light coming through the window had shifted, casting long shadows across the apartment.
Eventually, I dragged myself up, my body feeling heavy and foreign. I stumbled to the kitchen and pulled out what was left of the bottle of wine I’d bought to celebrate my new project. Was that really just yesterday? It felt like a lifetime ago.
I didn’t bother with a glass, just twisted off the cap and took a long swallow straight from the bottle. The wine was good, expensive, but I barely tasted it. I just wanted the numbness it would bring.
My phone buzzed on the counter. I glanced at it, half hoping it was Kent, half dreading it was. But it was just a text from my mom.
Mom: Just checked into the hotel. Thank you for everything. Love you.
I stared at the message, trying to figure out how to respond. Did she know what had happened? Had she seen through Kent’s act? Or was she still blissfully unaware that her son had been fucking his stepbrother for the past month?
Me: Love you too.
It was all I could manage. I took another long drink of wine and carried the bottle to the couch, collapsing onto it. The apartment felt too quiet, too empty. Kent had only been gone a few hours, but it was like all the air had been sucked out of the room with him.
How had I let this happen?
Chapter 27
Kent
“Did you get your phone charger?” Brittany asked the moment I stepped through the door.
