Page 5 of Love By a Landslide

“You realize I’d be kissing my promotion goodbye if I did that, right?”

Lucy’s jaw dropped. “Let’s see if I have this right. You’d be fine with getting a promotion all because Roberta thinks you’ll sleep with her?”

Brodan shrugged. “It’d be, like, a twenty-five percent raise.”

“You’re unbelievable.” Lucy shook her head as the dull ache tightened her scalp and radiated down her neck.I need another ibuprofen.

“I never said I’d actually fuck her.” He flung back the covers with a groan and popped to his feet. Marching around the bed, he stood over Lucy, arms crossed.

“But you didn’t tell her to back off either.”

“You’re acting real insecure, Luce. This isn’t the first time that you’ve accused me of cheating and, frankly, I find it insulting.”

She refused to look up at him. Instead, she stared straightahead, boring her sights into the wall beside the bed. They’d had this fight before, though typically, Lucy would back off the second Brodan started calling into question her trust in his fidelity.He’s right, she’d tell herself.I should be able to trust him. Otherwise, why stick around?She’d talk herself out of her anger, even turn around and apologize for her accusations. They’d make up, have sex, and everything would return to normal.

Maybe it was the shot of Fireball at The Tackle Boxx or the two sake bombs she’d choked down at dinner, but she had zero intention of dropping it this time.

“I’m not letting you turn this around on me. I’ve seen firsthand how she is with you. And that’sin front of your girlfriend.”

Brodan huffed, “Fine. I don’t care if you don’t trust her. But I’ve never once cheated on you. Even though I’ve been tempted many times over the last four years, I’ve been completely faithful to you.” When Lucy didn’t look at him or respond, he sat down next to her on the bed. He ran a hand up her arm and softened his voice. “Babe, I have to go. Roberta said it’s non-negotiable.”

“Did you remind her that you already have this trip planned?” Lucy congratulated herself on her level, placid tone.

“I didn’t tell her,” he cooed, laying a gentle kiss on her shoulder.

“Why not?” She shrugged off his touch, her harrowing effort at remaining calm slipping away.

He sighed but said nothing.

“Why didn’t you tell her you couldn’t go, Brodan?” Lucy rose to her feet, hands balled into fist.

“Because this work trip is important to me!” he snarled as he stood and faced her. Brodan towered over her by nearly a foot, but she remained toe-to-toe, unwilling to withdraw from the confrontation. Prepared to have it out. Because she was thirtyyears old,dammit, and it was about time she stood up for herself.

“And our trip isn’t important to you?” she ground out, craning her neck to look up at him. “Us getting to spend time together isn’t important to you?”

The fire in his eyes died away, and he took a step back. “I don’t think it is.”

“The trip or spending time together?” She popped her jaw, refusing to wince despite already knowing the answer.

“All of it.” Brodan scrubbed a hand down his face and let out a ragged grunt. “Look, Luce, this isn’t working.” He walked to the other side of the bed.

“You’re breaking up with me.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yeah, I think so.” He sighed and pulled a shirt over his head. “I’ve been thinking about this for a while now, and . . . we’re too different. Maybe it’s best if we cut our losses and call it quits.”

Lucy was speechless.What the actual fuck?This had been her life for almost four years, and he wanted them to “cut their losses?” They’d been great together. All right, maybe they were good together. Lord knows she made a lot of sacrifices for him, but that’s what you do! Isn’t it? You do what’s best for your partner; in return, they do the same.

“I am going to head to Steve’s and crash for the night,” he said, stuffing a few things into a duffel bag. “I’ll give you some time to get your stuff together. I won’t be back until tonight after work. That should be long enough.”

“Wait, you want me to move out? In less than twenty-four hours?”

“Well, yeah. This was my apartment to begin with, and you moved in. It just makes sense. Plus, your name isn’t even on the lease.”

He tugged on a pair of black jeans and his Vince Sonoma loafers. Running a hand through his somehow still perfectlycoiffed hair, his bicep flexed, straining against his fitted white V-neck T-shirt. He shrugged and threw his bag across his shoulder.

“I am sorry to do this on your birthday.”

Lucy watched Brodan stalk from the room. The jangle of keys followed him out the front door as it shut behind him, emphasizing the silence with a quietsnick.

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