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“Who’s taking care of you?”

I search his loving hazel eyes, not understanding.

“You’re standing here, shaking. And your first instinct is to take care of me.”

I still don’t get what he’s saying.

“Jonathan may have some misguided sense of duty to protect people. But you save him. You always stand beside him when he needs you. And where is he when you need him?”

I shake my head. He doesn’t get it. Nobody does. “We’re there for each other.”

Collin releases a breath and nods. “I know. You’re right.” He’s dismissing me. Placating. But he doesn’t really believe it.

“Relationships aren’t always balanced. Sometimes one person needs more from the other. And then it may tip the other way. That’s what love is. Lately, he requires more from me. I understand if it doesn’t look balanced or fair from the outside. But he has always been there for me when I needed him. So have you. You’re the loves of my life. I couldn’t live this life without either of you.”

My phone chimes, breaking our intense moment. I dig through my purse to retrieve it, hoping it’s Jonathan. He wouldn’t pick up any of my calls on our drive to the apartment.

Gavin: Restaurant and police are taken care of. Dad made a call. You may be hearing from Mom.

A second later, another text follows.

Gavin: I’d say I’m sorry about what I said, but I’m not. I hope to god I helped end things between the two of you. I’d do it again if I did.

I gnash my teeth and chuck the phone across the room. It slams against the wall and leaves a dent.

“Whoa. Didn’t realize you were starting for the Yankees.”

“Mets,” I correct through a clenched jaw.

“Not Jonathan?’

“Gavin.”

“Understood. Worth breaking your phone?”

“And my iPad.”

“I’ll be sure to hide it.”

I cover my face and start crying. “What happened? Why did Gavin show up tonight and say such awful things? How fricken twisted is he? I know he doesn’t want us to be together… but this…. this—” My words are lost to uncontrollable sobs.

Collin pulls me against him and guides us to the couch. He sits down, and I curl up into a ball and slobber all over his bare chest. I cry myself to sleep, not caring that I’m in my bra and underwear. Collin’s never liked me that way. If he was ever in love with one of us, it was Jonathan.

My eyes pop open, expecting Jonathan. I scan the dimly lit apartment, still curled up against Collin, a blanket covering most of me. Collin runs hot, just like Jonathan.

I thought I heard the click of the door. But it’s just us.

Would you like a cherry on that?” the girl asks with a flirtatious lilt, making Emma cover up a laugh with a cough.

“No, that’s okay,” I answer politely, not giving her any more attention than is needed to get our sundaes. I wait at the window as she and her co-worker whisper to each other while finishing off our order.

Emma grins wider from her perch on top of the picnic table watching the two girls break out into a fit of giggles when I walk away carrying our sundaes.

“You have a fan club.” Of course she couldn’t let it go. Neither could Collin. It’d amuse him for hours. “They must recognize you from the ads.”

“Funny.” I take a seat beside her on the table, handing her the brownie sundae.

“Or maybe they think you wet yourself.” She nods to where my wet boxers seep through my jeans, and laughs.