Page 89 of Gone for You

“I’m not pitying you, Ethan. I’m just trying to be here for you.”

I stand up, my impatience with the entire situation getting the best of me. “Well, can you stop? Fuck, Liv!” I yell, throwing my arms in the air. I point to the bed where she’s sitting. “Why are you even here? I didn’t ask you to stay. You told me you were here until Lily’s wedding but it’s like you’ve decided to move in without asking me.” I can’t stop the hateful words from spewing out of my mouth. I don’t mean a single word of them, either. But I saw her getting twitchy before the wedding. Knew my time was limited. Then she changed her mind and said she wanted to see where this thing between us could go. How long will it last, though? How long before she changes her mind back and decides our time is done?

“I thought…”

“What? That we would just play house and have fun. Then, when you’re done with me, you’ll leave?”

Now she’s standing, coming right into my face, pointing a finger right at my chest. “No. And screw you for saying that, Ethan.”

“Screw me? Right. Can you honestly tell me you weren’t getting nervous before Lily’s wedding? That you weren’t looking for an out?”

She takes a step back. “Yes. I was. But I didn’t leave, did I?”

“Because you had to be here for the wedding. If you didn’t have a reason to stay, would you have?” Silence fills the air, which is all the answer I need. I bark out a laugh. “Right. You know you would have left eventually. Shit was getting real for you. Don’t deny that, Liv. I think I deserve honesty here because I saw it at the end. You were getting antsy, ready to flee.”

“Don’t put words in my mouth,” she snaps.

“Are you saying I’m wrong?”

She glares at me, fire could be shooting out of her eyes. “I’m not them, Ethan,” she growls.

“And I’m not those fuckers you used to date or like your parents who cheated on each other, either. But one thing I’ve learned in my life is that everyone leaves. Just like in your mind, everyone cheats, right? It won’t work. You and I. We have too much baggage. Too fucked up of pasts. I’ll always wonder when you’re about to leave. You’ll always wonder when I’m going to stray.”

“What are you saying?”

“What do you think I’m saying?”

“No. You don’t get to be a pussy here. If you’re breaking things off, you have to say it out loud.”

“We’re done.” She flinches at the harshness in my tone but she doesn’t shed a tear. She can pretend to be hurt all she wants, but I know she’s just pissed I did it first.

“Okay.”

The fact that she’s not fighting it proves that I made the right choice. Easier now to quit before either of our hearts are too far into it.

“I’ll just pack up my things and get out of here.”

She quickly grabs her suitcase and starts throwing her clothes in. Within ten minutes she’s pulling her car out of the space it’s sat in my garage and she’s driving down the road.

Out of Liberty.

Out of my life.

Chapter 40

Olivia

I’ve never minded being alone before.In fact, as an introvert, I always preferred it. But I’m currently going out of my mind. I’ve never hated the constricting walls of my apartment so much in my life.

I haven’t heard his voice in two months. Felt his touch. Kissed his lips.

It’s been the worst two months of my life.

He may have pushed me away but I’m just as much to blame for us not being together.

Stupid.

Weak.

---