Page 108 of Rainstorm

Another stab right to my heart.

Tears rain in my soul.

The man I thought was my soul mate is right here in front of me, but this time he won’t be the one to take the pain away, not when an ocean of distrust separates us.

“Why would you think that after everything you did, Chase? Just leave me alone!” I explode in frustration. “Isn’t it enough that you broke me? What else do you want from me?”

“If I told you, explained what I want, would you consider giving me another chance?” he asks as his image appears in the mirror in front of me.

“I couldn’t care less about whatever it is you want,” I lie, desperately wishing things could be different, that there was a way to make everything right.

“All I want is to hold you so tightly that all the broken pieces stick together again. I want to mend things between us and make everything right. That’s all I want,” he replies, as if reading my mind.

But it doesn’t matter, I can’t do this again.

No more.

I busy myself with folding and packing my clothes, but he’s still there, invading my space and when he’s close I run out of air. I had forgotten how easy it is for him to become my everything.

“Do you want to keep anything from this room?” I ask as I try to ignore him, knowing there is nothing of his in here. What I really want is for him to get out and let me finish packing alone.

“Yes,” he replies as he crosses the space between us.

“What?” My heart is about to explode from the way he’s looking at me, and I have forgotten how to breathe.

“You. I want to keep you.”

The pure emotion contained in his words melts away the ice freezing my heart and turns it into steam. My will also seems to have evaporated, leaving me helpless before him.

“But this is our goodbye,” I murmur, as his lips close in on mine, but I pull away.

“What are you so afraid of?” he asks. “It’s just me.” His tender tone gives me goose bumps.

It’s just me.

The random guy I fell in love over six years ago.

But also the man who broke me. The man who broke my trust.

No.

I’m not doing this again.

Outside there’s a loud clap of thunder, shaking the windows like an omen.

“Just let me go and give me what was agreed, Chase,” I say, shaking my head.

He sighs and nods, as he stares at me. “Fine. Let’s go to my den.”

We climb the stairs side by side in silence, then I sit in one of the chairs in front of his desk, keeping a barrier between us, needing some distance to keep a clear head.

The time has arrived.

Completing the circle. Cutting ties.

Healing. Living again.

Chapter 26

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