“Look, I know that I—”
“And now Evira?”
“That’s no slight toward you. It just… happened.”
I studied him closely.
“I swear it, Win. I wouldn’t do that to hurt you. Evira has nothing to do with—”
“I believe you.”
“You do?”
“About that, yes. About her. You and her actually makes a great deal of sense. And it’s good for her.” I grunted as I admitted. “And for you.”
“So we’re—”
“Good? Are you really asking me that? After everything?”
“Win, listen, I—”
“You cast me aside. Repeatedly. Even that last time we spent together. Then when I got here, you made a show of putting your hands all over your lovers in front of me and demonstrating just how open for business you are.”
“I did that last part becauseyoudidn’t even acknowledge me when you got here!”
“You… are you a child?”
“I’m a year older than you. But… yeah… you know I’m not perfect.”
“Well, I guess that absolves you of everything then, doesn’t it?”
He shoved his hand through his hair. “That’s not what I’m saying or—argh!” He tugged at the pink strands, starting to pace.
“Yes. Please go right on ahead, Z. Fly into a rage. That will most definitely help this discussion along.”
“I’m not flying into a rage,” he said, sucking in a couple of harsh breaths. “But while we’re on that track, your sarcasm isn’t exactly gonna help either.”
I stared at him. “Nothing will.”
Our gazes clashed and I saw his upset there.
Normally that would undo me.
But I couldn’t allow it anymore.
“It’s clear that it’s not just toxic, which is bad enough, but it’s twisting me up, turning me into something… someone… I don’t want to be.”
Those words of mine to my dad ran through my head.
I absolutely didn’t want to be that person, to become somebody else because of this madness with Zayn.
“He isn’t willing to give anything, only to take. And it’s hurting you.”
My dad had been right about that.
And once you saw the reality of a situation independent of the excuses you made for it, you couldn’tunsee it.
I stepped away from him. “Make sure she reallydoesn’tkill him, or wewillhave to call my dad here. And, believe me, you don’t want that right now.”
