Page 52 of Fragments of You

“You don’t come to my house, say shit like that, and think you can tell me what to do,” he hisses.

“If you love her the way I think you do, you’ll sit the fuck back down.” I cross my legs at the ankles, making myself comfortable.

Even though he looks like he wants to rip my head clean off my shoulders, he does as I say, lowering himself back into the chair.

“As I was saying.” I clear my throat. “I want to thank you for being there for her when I wasn’t. Whatever your motives, you kept her here, alive and breathing, and for that, I will always be indebted to you. I think it’s pretty obvious why I came back. Of course, had I had all the information...” I give him a knowing look before continuing. “Then maybe I would have made a different decision. But as it is, I’m here now, and I’m not planning on going anywhere. At least not until Paisley tells me to. But that doesn’t mean the shit between us has to continue.”

“So you’re ready to back off?”

“I love her, Felix. You already know that. I know I’ve been gone four years, but in that time, that love didn’t fade. If anything, it grew stronger. Because it was the thought of her that kept me going. As much as I want her to choose me, if she chooses you, I will learn to live with that decision. But that doesn’t mean I’m ready to give up.”

“What the fuck am I supposed to do with that? Tell you it’s okay to try to steal the love of my life?”

“But isn’t that exactly what you did to me?” I cock my head to the side, studying his reaction closely.

“That’s different. You left.”

“You’re right, I did. And I asked my best friend to watch out for my girl while I was gone. That was my second mistake. My biggest mistake was leaving in the first place.”

“It’s not like we planned this, you know? You leaving brought us closer together. I can’t help that I fell in love with her. You, of all people, should understand how easy that is to do.”

“No, but you lied to her, and you lied to me. You can tell her you were protecting her until you’re blue in the face, but we both know why you really didn’t tell her. Because you knew if she knew the truth, you never would have stood a chance with her. You won her by default, Felix. You never were one to fight fair, though, were you?”

“She chose me because she loves me.”

“I don’t doubt that she does love you, Felix. But we both know what you two have doesn’t hold a candle to what we share. One day, she’s going to let herself admit that, and when that day comes, I will be waiting for her with open arms.”

“That won’t happen.” He roughly shoves his hair away from his forehead.

“I guess we’ll just have to see, won’t we?” I shrug. “Until then, I won’t interfere in your relationship. I’ll keep my distance. But, Felix,” I say as I stand, “if she seeks me out, I won’t hesitate to do everything in my power to win her back.” I turn to leave.

“Does that mean you won’t tell her what you know?” he says to my back.

“That would be too easy.” I glance back at him. “No, I want you to know that when she chooses me, it’s for no other reason than I’m the one she wants.”

“That won’t happen.” He waits until I’ve descended the steps to say.

“You do know, no matter what happens, one day she will learn the truth, and when that day comes, this happy little lie you’ve been telling yourself is all going to come crashing down.” I barely get the words out before Paisley’s white car pulls into the driveway, a smile touching my lips at the sight of her. “You have a good day, old friend.”

I reach my car just as Paisley climbs from hers.

“Nash...” Her expression is a mixture of worry and confusion.

“Don’t worry, P. No blood was shed,” I tell her with a wink, climbing into my car without another word.

I’m careful not to look back as I pull out of the driveway. As much as it kills me to do so, I meant what I said to Felix. I’m done interfering. If Paisley decides she wants to see me, she knows where to find me. Until then, I’ll be holding my fucking breath...

Chapter Thirteen

Paisley

Seven Years Earlier

“ARE YOU SURE ABOUT this, Nash?” My voice touches the darkness.

“Relax, it’s just up this way,” he reassures, laughter vibrating his words.

His grip on my hand tightens, and with it, so does my heart, which is currently beating against my ribcage like a heavy drum.

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