Page 181 of Only With You

“Not right?—”

“Are you crazy?”

I keep walking because the last person I need a lecture from is him. It’s probably irrational, but I’ve made up my mind and I don’t intend to change it.

“You’re not going to stop me.”

“I’m not going to stop you. I’m going to offer you a private jet because Thanksgiving is tomorrow. Do you not realize how packed the airport is right now?” he mocks a scoff. “And they say you’re smart.”

I stare in stupor, but before I can manage to get a word out, he continues.

“Don’t make this weird. I’ll have them get it ready for you.” He pauses. “How do you have her number?”

“I helped her with an assignment last year. She’s not going to wear it.” I show him the messages, it’s the least I can do since he’s helping me out.

“You petty bastard.”

“You started it. I just ended it.”

He rolls his eyes and smiles nonetheless. “Whatever. You should get going.”

50

LANDON

My fisted handsuspends in the air next to the door. It’s midnight and I’m sure it’ll freak her out if I knock, considering everyone is probably home for Thanksgiving.

Dropping it, I opt for using my key and hope to God she’s awake.

My hope is kindled when I hear thePride and Prejudicesoundtrack coming from her record player and her soft hum. But it stops when I push the door open.

When I step in, I regret not knocking because her eyes grow impossibly wide with panic, and she sits frozen on the couch. It only lasts for a mere second before she’s jumping to her feet, grabbing one of the decorative throw pillows, and chucking it at me.

I grab it before it hits my chest.

“What the hell is the matter with you? You scared me!” she bellows and grabs another, throwing it as hard as she can, but I catch it, which only pisses her off more. She grabs another, but this time I let it hit me on the chest. “You could have told me you were coming in instead of just showing up. I thought it was a robber!”

“I wasn’t sure if you’d respond since you haven’t replied to any of my messages that I sent out since Saturday night.”

I even messaged her on both of her Instagram accounts and got nothing, so she can’t blame me. I tried reaching out, a fucking lot.

Her mouth twists and the fire burning in her eyes extinguishes, but I still feel the heat emit from them. “There’s a reason why I didn’t. I want to be left alone, so leave, because I really don’t want to talk to you or anyone right now.”

I set the pillows down as I approach her. “No, I’m not leaving. I didn’t fly out here so you could kick me out.”

“I didn’t ask you to fly out here,” she snaps back, the fire returning in her eyes.

“No, you didn’t, but I wanted to be here because I thought you were sick. And I was worried, because you weren’t replying.” I take one step closer, but she takes one step away.

“Because I need to be alone. How much more clearer do I need to be? I just want to be alone. I didn’t ask you to fly out, so do us both a favor and leave, because I’m not in the mood to argue with you tonight or ever. Matter of fact, I’m done with us. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t dofunanymore. I just can’t. So I’m done. Find someone else to befunwith, because it can’t be…” Her chin quavers, chest rapidly rising and falling. “Me.”

Something punctures the middle of my chest. A knife lodges in so deep, I can feel the blade slowly slicing my heart in half.

“Julianna—”

“No, just get out.” She pins me with a look of defeat.

I spin on my heel because if I’ve learned anything is that when someone sets a boundary and tells you no, it means no. But as I open the door, ready to walk out, I stop because I can’t just leave.

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