Page 113 of The Love You Win

What do you mean, you’re looking for more in a partner?

Please. Please call me back.

I can be better for you. I swear.

That last one makes bile claw up my throat. I don’t respond. A minute or two later, she tries calling again. But this time, she calls just once.

Good. She’s finally getting the hint. I don’t want to talk to her. I don’t want anything to do with her.

My phone buzzes, and a notification for a new voicemail pops up on the screen. I debate deleting it outright, but I’m a glutton for punishment when I’m drunk.

Pressing play, I steel myself to hear her voice.

I expect anger or rage. I expect her to yell at me. To call me names like Candace did. What I don’t expect is to hear panic. Or pain.

Isla’s voice shakes and wavers. Sniffles accentuate every few words. Once or twice, she has to fight back a sob.

“Maddox? I… Did something happen? Did I do something? Please call me back. Please. I don’t understand what’s going on. Whatever it is, we can talk about it. Right? I don’t…” Her voice cuts off in a sob. “Maddox, I…” She stifles another cry. “Whatever I did, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I can be better. Please, just call me back.”

The soft sounds of her crying play in my ear. I harden myself to them.

“Please call me back. I lo— I care about you so much. Please don’t shut me out. Not like this.” Another sniffle. “Call as late as you want. I won’t be sleeping. Goodnight, Ogre.” The voicemail ends.

She’s a good actress. I’ll give her that. If I hadn’t heard the vile garbage she spewed to her ex, I might even believe her.

I stare at the screen for what feels like an eternity before I do what needs to be done.

I block Isla Harding’s number.

fifty

ISLA

I call in sick for the rest of the week. Every morning I wake up and tell myself that I need to get out of bed. That my students need me. But I simply don’t have the strength.

The night Maddox broke up with me—over text—I spent hours combing through social media posts trying to figure out what had happened. Because something had to have happened. He couldn’t have just broken up with me out of the blue, right?

That’s when I found the photos some female fans posted from a bar. In one of them, a pretty brunette sat perched on Maddox’s lap. Her face was bright and happy. Mocking me. Maddox stared at the camera as if daring me to look away.

He’s already moved on with someone prettier. Someone new. Of course, he has. I’m just the placeholder. The woman who’s good enough for now but not worthy of forever.

I wanted forever with Maddox. I want it still. My stupid, broken heart hasn’t been able to accept what my head so easily recognized.

He’s done with me. So done, all my calls go straight to voicemail and my texts sit unread.

Rubbing my swollen eyes, I curse the tears that don’t seem to stop. They trickle endlessly from my tear ducts. My pillows are perpetually damp. And covered with donut crumbs.

I’m right back to where I was before the auction date. Only it’s worse this time. So much worse. Alex crushed my dreams, but Maddox obliterated my heart.

A knock at my door has me groaning. My voice is raw and scratchy from crying and disuse when I shout, “Go away!”

There’s a faint jingling of keys, followed by the click of the lock, and then my best friends’ voices fill my apartment.

“I swear to god, Isla, you better have changed your underwear today.”

Nope. Sure haven’t. What’s the point?

“Go away,” I mumble into my pillow. “I don’t want to see anyone.”

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