Page 102 of As You Wish

“Don’t!” she snapped. “Don’t say anything.”

I paused and put up my hands in mock defense. “Okay, I won’t. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“I’m fine.” The words were uttered through gritted teeth.

“We both know that’s a lie.”

And I did. Most people would let her process in silence, but I’d always refuse to.

“Oh, fuck off. You’re the one who left.”

“You told me not to come back.”

“And obviously I regretted it, okay? Is that what you want to hear?”

“Jade—”

“I overreacted. I shouldn’t have told you to stay away because—fuck—having nothing was way harder than you leaving.” I opened my mouth to say something, but she wasn’t having it. “Shut it. I’m crashing out and you’re gonna fucking listen!”

I sealed my lips as she stepped forward.

“You were my person, you know that, right? I’ve never felt as understood as when I was with you.”

My heart felt like it was breaking in my chest. She didn’t want me to talk, but I had so much to say.

“We’re supposed to stay away from each other. We’re not supposed to fall into old patterns. But I never broke the pattern, okay? I never have and I never will. Meanwhile, you made a life. Your game is the one thing I have, even if it just shows how little you regret leaving.”

I couldn’t stay quiet any longer. “I do regret leaving.”

Jade paused. “Wh-what?”

“I do regret leaving. I did miss you. A lot more than five thousand hours were spent thinking of you.”

That got Jade out of her anger. She looked at me with wide eyes, tears spilling down her cheeks.

“Then why didn’t you come back?”

“I didn’t think you’d want me to.”