My chest burns as I try to hold back my tears. Still, one slips down my cheek. “You don’t get to do this,” I say, and I carefully wipe beneath my eye. “You don’t get to just leave this time without telling me why.” Anger mixes with my sorrow, and I let it show through my tone.
“Look at me, Jenna,” Cole says and gestures to his shirt before showing me the cuts on his hands. “I’m covered in another man’s blood. This wasn’t supposed to happen. But it did and then …” He swallows hard and shakes his head as his gaze falls to my cheek. “If I’m not here, I can’t hurt anyone.” He softens his voice. “I can’t hurt you.”
“It was a mistake,” I say. “Please, don’t do this.”
“A mistake?” Cole repeats, narrowing his eyes. “I fucking hit you! I don’t care what you call it, itnever shouldhave happened.”
“You’re right, but you don’t have to leave just so it never happens again. Let me help you—”
“Jenna,” Cole practically begs. “Stop. I’m a lost cause, so please, just stop trying to fix me.”
We stand at an impasse, and I realize that no matter what I say I’m about to lose him.
“That’s it then,” I tell him, my voice harsh as I lose myself to my anger. My heart is pounding as blood pumps viciously through my veins. “You’re just going to quit. Just throw away everything. All that we had…” Unable stop myself, a sob escapes me. “And all that we could’ve had?”
Cole closes the distance between us, calling me”baby”as he reaches for me.
“Don’tcall me that,” I say and tear myself from his arms as I stare him down. “Leave.”
A moment of shock crosses his face.
“If you’re going to leave, just do it already,” I tell him and then draw in a ragged breath. “Stop dragging this out and just go.” My chest heaves as I try to control my breathing. “Leave!”
Cole takes a step away from me, holding my gaze for the longest time before tightening his jaw and straightening his back. He gives me one soft brief nod, then he turns and leaves me standing by the lake.
I’m about to lose it, but I refuse to let him see me break down. If he really needs to go, I’ll let him, no matter how much it kills me inside. Clutching my throat and my stomach, I watch him walk away from me. He doesn’t look back. He just gets in his truck and slowly drives away. Only then do I let myself succumb to the pain. I collapse to the ground, letting my tears and sobs break free. And for the second time in my life, my entire world just falls apart.
