Page 71 of Beauty Of Her

She let out a small chuckle, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Burgers, huh? Like old times?”

“Old times?” My face twisted. “Babe, we’re just getting started.”

Julia dropped her chin, quelling a grin. She stepped back and motioned for me to enter, which I did. Stepping into Julia’s house, a mix of familiar scents enveloped me. The sweet aroma of vanilla candles mingled with the comforting smell of fresh laundry. It felt like home, even though it technically wasn’t. Julia led me to the living room, where I stared at the couch, the place where we first had sex and changed everything. Julia gestured for us to sit down, and I placed the bag of burgers on the coffee table before sitting next to her on the couch. The tension between us was palpable, but there was also an underlying longing.

“Brett,” Julia began, and my name falling off her lips said it all.

This wasn’t going to be good. Suddenly, eating the burgers or anything made my stomach flip. I wasn’t ready for this and dragged a hand down my face. “Let’s hear it.”

“I’ve been thinking over the last week, and while we can definitely love each other, I don’t think it’ll be enough for what each of us truly needs.”

“I need you, Julia.” I pivoted until our eyes locked. “That’s what I need.” Right? Or was this another Band-Aid I slapped on?

“Maybe right now. But what about in a week? A month? We can’t keep having the same conversation about what we want from a relationship.”

My eyes darted wildly around the room, my lungs tightening, and then it hit me. No matter what I said, it was too late. Julia had already made up her mind. I had hoped this conversation would be different and we could find a way to make things work. But as I looked into Julia’s eyes, I saw the truththat our paths were diverging, and I could do nothing to change it. At that moment, a mix of emotions swirled inside me. Anger, frustration, and disappointment battled for dominance. How had we allowed ourselves to get entangled in each other’s lives only to realize we were on different pages? It felt like a cruel twist of fate, a reminder that no matter how much passion and chemistry we shared, love alone couldn’t bridge the gap between us.

“Wow.” I forced the word out. “So, this is it.” My chest heaved, and I ran my clammy hands up and down my thighs.

Julia nodded, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “I think it’s for the best, Brett. We both deserve to find happiness in our own ways. And I don’t think we can give that to each other.”

Her words hit me with the force of a sledgehammer. It was over.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and mustered up a weak smile, trying to mask the pain that clenched my heart. “There’s really no way?”

“Brett.” Julia’s gravelly voice barely masked the pain threatening to break her. “If there was a way, we wouldn’t have this conversation. I can’t give you what you want.”

“What if I change my mind?” I wasn’t giving up yet and squeezed her knee. “What if I don’t want a baby?”

Julia’s gaze softened as she reached out to cover my hand with hers, her touch comforting and heartbreaking. “Brett, it’s not just about the baby. It’s about our entire lives and the paths we want to take. We’re at different stages with different priorities. I don’t want you to give up on your dreams for me, just like I can’t sacrifice my happiness for yours.”

Well, fuck. This was it. But I couldn’t be here anymore. I never intended to get angry, except I didn’t know how to control the rage either. I stood up abruptly, the couch legs scraping against the wooden floor, echoing throughout the room. Julia flinched and reached out, trying to touch my arm, but I jerked away.

“Don’t,” I snapped. “Just... don’t.”

Her hand fell back to her side, and she looked at me with tears glistening in her eyes. “Brett, please...”

“Is this what you really want?” I asked, my voice desperate. “To throw away all that we had?”

Tears spilled over Julia’s cheeks as she took in a shuddering breath. “No,” she admitted softly.

“Then what do you want?” My voice cracked.

“Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.” Julia tore her hands through her hair.

“Don’t make this harder? Harder for who? You’re giving up on us. I don’t want this. I’m willing to bend. To be patient. I’m willing to change, but you’re not.” I stormed across the room and headed straight to the front door. I heard Julia scrambling behind me, but I refused to look back.

I twisted the doorknob, my hand shaking with anger and heartbreak. The door swung open, the cool night air slapping my face. I stepped forward, ready to leave it behind, when a soft voice stopped me.

"Brett, please..." Julia's voice was barely a whisper. I turned to look at her, my eyes clashing with hers.

“If this is what you want, this is exactly what you will get.” It was surreal how much I loved her and how much I suddenly hated her. “Goodbye, Julia.”

And then I slammed the door. Right in her fucking face.

“Babe, I don’t like this new you,” said Amelia, motioning to my near-lifeless figure in my bed under the covers. “And when was the last time you even showered?” She hovered over me, arms resting on her lips like a disgruntled teapot.

I peered up at Amelia, my dear best friend, just wishing she’d leave me the fuck alone. It had been two weeks since Brett agreed to break up with me, per my stupid request, and I wanted to be miserable under my own terms.

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