Page 60 of Bought and Broken

He wouldn’t have gone home with—no. Tate wouldn’t do that to me. He wouldn’t.

“You’ve reached Tatum Winters. I can’t—”

His voicemail answers and I end the call before trying again.

“What?” he says, which has the relief I felt over him answering turn to annoyance.

I pull the phone away to make sure I’m talking to the right person.

It says Tatum…

“Tate?”

“Yeah,” he says.

“Where are you? Why haven’t you been answering me?”

“I didn’t realize I had to check in with you.”

“What? You don’t. But I was worried. I haven’t heard from you since—”

“Look, Dev, this isn’t working out. So, we’re going to have to call it quits.”

My stomach plummets as my heart shatters. I sink onto my bed.

“Wh-what?” The word barely squeaks out.

“I’m not doing this with you, Devon. Don’t call me anymore.”

The phone beeps, telling me the call ended. I stare at my phone, absolutely horrified.

What just happened? Did he… break up with me? Why would he do that?

A choked sob gets caught in my throat as my eyes burn with unshed tears. My chest goes tight.

I can’t breathe…

My hands shake and that’s when the tears fall.

And they don’t stop.

There’s a loud knock on my door that wakes me.

“Go away!” I call.

The door opens then closes, and someone jumps onto my bed. I open my eyes to see who it is, but I must have forgotten to close the curtains last night because I’m assaulted by bright light. My eyes squeeze shut just as a heavy body falls on top of me. The scent tells me who it is.

I smile.

“Missed you, little sis,” Dane says, holding me tight.

I giggle, trying to shove him off me, but he doesn’t move.

“Not going anywhere. I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever,” he says, nuzzling his face against mine way too harshly.

“Stop it, Dane!”

He chuckles, letting up.

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