Page 26 of Love Harder

Zuko took the floor and detailed what he needed for the shoot.

For the entire time, Ghost looked at me. He was still that alpha, which drove me wild. I watched him from my peripheral vision but gave him nothing.

But inside? Fuck me, inside, I was dying.

“Do either of you have a partner who would object to the shoot?” Zuko asked, catching me off guard.

I looked at Ghost.

He was to take the lead.

And when he nodded firmly, I got the answer I finally deserved.

“It won’t be an issue for me,” I replied softly, unable to process that Ghost was with someone else.

Yes, I had moved on too, but ouch, this fucking stung.

Zuko excused himself as he knew we had much to discuss.

I turned to look at Ghost.

It was just him and me.

At that moment, I knew why his ghosting me hurt; it hurt because I loved him. I had fallen in love with him without consent. Love didn’t ask permission. It just made me fall and fall hard without an instruction manual, and I was just expected to know how to survive.

And now that I finally knew, I had to come to terms with the fact that he loved someone other than me.

I wanted a do-over.

“You owe me an explanation.”

He nodded, eyes downcast as if needing time to gather his thoughts.

“I do.”

Silence…

But no.

He had more than enough time to formulate a reply. He had WEEKS…so his silence wasn’t going to fly.

“You just vanished. What happened? I was worried…” I couldn’t express anger because all I felt was sadness.

The anger was still there, but my heart just hurt. It took precedence over all.

“I…I wasn’t happy. I didn’t like the person I was. I was lonely.”

“What…happened?” I asked once again because that wasn’t an excuse.

Every person on this earth feels that way in their lifetime—it’s what they do about it and how they treat others that distinguishes them from the rest.

“I…I got back together with my ex.”

“Ex-wife?”

He nodded, and he looked…I don’t know what adjective to use.

Sad, perhaps?

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