He opens the door and sees my phone on the floor, the screen shattered. “Was that the noise?”
I stare at him, my hands on my hips. “You seriously heard that above your music? How is that even possible?”
“What happened?” he asks, coming into my room. “Decide you didn’t want it?” he asks, pointing to the broken guitar.
“I don’t wantitor the guy who gave it to me.”
He nods. “Broke up with the boyfriend.”
“I didn’t have a choice since he’s already replaced me with someone else.”
“Fuck, that was fast.”
“I know, right? I’m gone a week and he’s already found someone else?” I yank a stuffed bear from the dresser and throw it in the trash.
“You sure he didn’t already have her?”
I glare at him. “Way to make me feel better, Braden.”
“What’s the answer? Did he or didn’t he?”
“Like I really want to think about that right now.”
“Might make you feel better.”
“To know he was cheating on me when I was there? How would that make me feel better?”
“Makes him an even bigger fuck-up.”
“Yeah? And how does that help?”
“Makes you hate him more. Hate gets you through this shit. Better to hate someone than cry over them.”
His comment reminds me of what Jackson said earlier — how I use anger to deal with my pain. How he does the same thing. Does Braden do it too? Is that why he’s telling me this?
“I don’t know how long it’s been going on,” I say. “But I don’t need to. Knowing that wouldn’t change anything. I couldn’t hate him any more than I do right now.”
Braden leans against the dresser, a cocky smile on his face. “What are you going to do about it?”
“About Axl? Nothing. It’s over. I’m done with him.”
“You don’t want to get revenge?”
“My revenge is him not having me in his life anymore. I was the best thing that ever happened to him.”
Braden chuckles. “You sound like a Halliway.”
“Why?”
“We know we’re the best. We don’t need anyone telling us. And if someone doesn’t want to be with us? It’s their loss.”
“Is that how you felt about Kristen?”
His smile drops. “Why are you bringing up Kristen?”
“You said you guys dated. I wondered if it didn’t end well.”
“None of your damn business.” He folds his arms over his chest.
