“Yeah,” I nodded, placing the charger I’d had the entire time on the counter.
It was an excuse to go see James, to apologize to him, to share with him my brilliant plan. But all that had blown up in my face. And the more I thought about it, the more I understood why.
“I thought maybe we could go out to the bar tonight or something,” Brittany offered, not looking up from her phone. “To celebrate.”
I was surprised to hear her suggest it. “I thought you wanted me to drink less?” I replied, brows furrowed. “You said it was one of the reasons you kicked me out in the first place.”
“Kent,” she sighed, looking up at last. “When are you going to stop taking everything I say so seriously? You should know better by now.”
I just stared at her for a moment, feeling like I was seeing her clearly for the first time. She hadn’t changed at all. I was the one who’d changed.
“That’s the thing, Brittany,” I said, leaning against the counter. “I don’t know better. Because every time you say something, you expect me to take it seriously, until suddenly you don’t. And I never know which is which.”
She rolled her eyes dramatically. “God, you’re being so sensitive right now. This is exactly why we needed a break.”
“A break?” I repeated, the word tasting bitter on my tongue. “You kicked me out. You said we were done.”
“Whatever,” she waved her hand dismissively. “The point is, we’re back together now, and I think we should celebrate. So go get dressed in something nice.”
I didn’t move. My mind was still replaying the look on James’s face when I’d suggested my “brilliant” plan. The disgust. The hurt. The way he’d compared me to my father. And the worst part was, he’d been right.
“What’s wrong with you?” Brittany’s sharp voice cut through my thoughts. “Why are you just standing there?”
“I can’t do this,” I said quietly.
“Can’t do what? Go out? Fine, we can stay in. I’ll order?—”
“No, Brittany. I can’t do this.” I gestured between us. “I can’t be with you again.”
Her face went through a series of expressions, confusion, disbelief, and finally settling on anger. “Excuse me?”
“I’m sorry,” I said, and I meant it. “I should never have agreed to come back here. It was a mistake.”
“A mistake?” Her voice rose sharply. “I took you back after you practically begged me?—”
“I never begged you for anything,” I interrupted. “You showed up at James’s apartment and ambushed me in front of his mother.”
“Because you wouldn’t answer my calls!” she shouted. “I had to do something drastic!”
“That’s not normal, Brittany! None of this is normal!” I ran my hands through my hair, frustration building. “A healthy relationship doesn’t work like this.”
She stood up, her eyes narrowing. “So, what, you’re some relationship expert now? After living with that… thatfairyfor a month?”
My blood ran cold. “Don’t call him that,” I warned, my voice dropping low.
“Why not? That’s what he is, isn’t it? Is that why you’re acting so weird? Did he corrupt you or something?”
I laughed then, a hollow sound. “Jesus, Brittany. Listen to yourself.”
“No, you listen to me.” She jabbed a finger toward me. “I took you back. Do you understand what that means? After you embarrassed me in front of everyone, I still gave you another chance. And this is how you thank me?”
“You cornering me in front of my stepmother is not a second chance. And I didn’t want a second chance, Brittany. That’s what you’re not understanding.” I moved away from the counter, needing to put some physical distance between us. “Our relationship was over the moment you kicked me out. Hell, it was over two years ago but I was too fucking stupid to see it.”
Her face flushed an angry red. “So what was all this? Some sick joke? You came back here just to hurt me?”
“No.” I sighed, feeling suddenly exhausted. “I came back because I panicked. Because it seemed easier to fall back into something familiar than to face who I really am.”
“And who exactly are you?” she sneered, crossing her arms.
