Page 40 of The Scars of Us

I couldn’t help what I had said, especially when her words reopened old scars. “I can’t do this.”

That phrase had changed everything, altering my whole life when it was said to me four years ago.

“Ry, we need to talk.”

“About what, babe?”

She exhaled a heavy sigh. “I don’t know how to say this…” she trailed off as a sob broke through.

“What’s wrong? Is it the baby?” I asked with concern as I took her hand in mine.

Jerking her hand away, she stood and clenched her fists. “I can’t do this anymore!”

Confused and worried, I questioned, “Baby, calm down. What are you talking about?”

“This! Us! I can’t stand the lies anymore!” She threw her hands out to the side.

“Lies? What lies? I’ve never lied to you before.” I had no clue what she was referring to.

“The baby’s not yours!” she blurted.

The air caught in my lungs, my heart stuttering in my chest from her words. “What?” I whispered as tears began to burn my eyes.

Her own tears trickled down her face as she coldly repeated, “The baby’s not yours.”

And to twist the knife she had plunged in my heart, she added, “Ethan’s the father.”

Fuck her. And him. The both of them could rot in hell. It was because of them that I was the way I am—hollow and numb, just going through the motions of everyday life without giving a fuck about anyone else. I never thought that I’d let another person in, but Kaiya was different. She made me want to feel again, to experience life again, kindling a long dead fire inside me. Now, I’d gone and fucked it all up.

I thought that having her once would be enough to satisfy my desire for her, just as it had with all the others. But, it didn’t; if anything, it had made me want her more. Her sweet sex had become my drug, addicting me the moment I sank my dick inside her.

I watched her angrily storm off to her car before she got in and sped out of the parking lot. Locking the door, I tried to stash away my thoughts of her, unable to process anything with the smell of her still on my skin.

I was off the next day, so hopefully I’d be able to make sense of all the mess after I slept, but I had a feeling that I wouldn’t be getting much sleep tonight.

As I had expected, I slept like shit. Tossing and turning all night, I was unable to get Kaiya off my mind. Memories of her moaning my name, digging her nails into my skin, and feeling her soft flesh against mine as her pussy clenched my cock taunted me as I tried to sleep.

Even though it was my day off, I was still going to the gym. I needed to release the pent up frustration from last night. I knew Kaiya wouldn’t be there—she never worked out on Fridays, so I wouldn’t have a chance to apologize to her. I’d tried calling and texting her, but she didn’t answer any of my attempts. I was hoping to run into her at the club later where we had first kissed—she and Nori went there most Fridays. But I wasn’t sure if she’d go after what had happened last night.

I was wound up even after working out, the stress of last night still weighing me down.Why did I have to say those things to her? She’ll probably never want to see me again.

I sent a text to Drew to see if he wanted to go with me to the club:

Me: Club tonight?

After a few minutes, he responded back:

Drew: I’m down what time

Me: Your place 11

Drew: Cool

When I got to Drew’s apartment, he opened the door and offered me a beer. “What’s been going on with you? Still talking to Kaiya?”

I took a long swig of my beer and let it slowly roll down my throat before saying anything. “I kind of fucked it all up last night. She won’t return my calls or anything.” I sat down on the couch. “I’m hoping to see her tonight.”

Drew popped the top on his own bottle as he leaned against the counter in the kitchen. “You really like her, huh?”

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