Page 239 of By His Play

Kieran happened.

“Do you need company?” Brax offers.

“Not sure that’s a good idea.”

“Effie.” He sighs. “I’m your friend. We both know there is nothing going on. As you said earlier, we haven’t done anything wrong.”

“I’m okay. Promise.” It’s a lie, and we both know it. I might have stood a chance at convincing him if my voice didn’t crack, but that’s not what just happened.

“Effie.”

“Seriously. I’m just going to have an early night. Things might look brighter in the morning.”

“I hate this,” Brax says quietly.

“I know. Me too. But there isn’t a lot we can do about it. I’ll speak to you soon, okay?”

“Okay. Effie?” he says quickly before I kill the call.“Everything will work out.”

“Of course. Night, Brax.”

I cut the call and sink back into the couch.

Everything hurts. Every single inch of me.

At some point, I managed to drag my ass to bed last night. But that doesn’t mean I got any sleep.

All night, I tossed and turned, replaying the events of the evening over and over in my head.

It was meant to be so incredible.

We were going to have good food, a few drinks, and then…

The sun might have risen on a new day, but nothing feels better.

If anything, it all feels worse with every hour that has passed.

The pain, the anger, the disbelief only grows.

How could he think those things of me?

He was mad, I get that. But shit.

He was cruel.

I hope he’s regretting it. But there’s a part of me that wonders if he does.

Was last night the final straw? Did it just remind him of why he doesn’t do relationships? Not that what we had could be described as one. If anything, it was a car crash.

A fucking disaster.

You never should have let him kiss you in Grams' kitchen.

We knew taking things to the next level was a risk. But I never thought we’d end up here.

Hurting.

My head pounds as I push myself out of bed. I didn’t drink a sip of alcohol last night, but I feel hungover.

---