Page 71 of Volatile

“So, you forgive me?”

“Yes, I forgive you.”

Hopefully, she’d cleared his conscience and they could be done. His foggy brain had likely already forgotten why he was there. That was her last thought before he was on top of her.

“What are you doing, Wes? Get off!”

What the hell—was he trying to kiss her? She tried moving him, but he was just a lump of dead weight.

“C’mon, I miss you.”

“No, Wes. I said get off. Stop.”

She was able to tilt her head just enough so he could miss her lips. A glob of his spit dribbled down her chin. Now, she was getting fucking pissed.

“Please, Ivy. I thought we were gonna get married someday. I won’t cheat again. Promise.”

Sober Wes would never be on top of her, groping her like this. He’d be nice and sweet and timid. Not that she liked nice and sweet and timid, but she sure as hell didn’t like this. Her zero attraction for him plunged into the negative digits.

“Goddamnit!” She managed to shimmy out from under him, her butt plopping on the ground. “What part of stop don’t you understand?”

“Sorry.”

She scrubbed her face with her hands. One look at him showed he was rapidly dropping from pseudo-courage into oblivion. Hell no. Not on her couch. Yes, they’d been together for years, but they weren’t together now. She wished him well but wanted to do it at a far, far distance.

Ivy tugged on his arm. “Wes, get up.”

“Just lemme sleep and we’ll talk in the morning.”

“There’s nothing more to talk about, and I have to work early.”

“Forgive me?”

She rolled her eyes. “I already said I did. Now, please get up. I’ll drive you home, okay?”

He couldn’t stand without swaying, even with her holding on to his arm. “Diana didn’t mean anything to me,” he said. “I did it because, you know... I felt neglected. I’m sorry. I thought you knew. I left signs.”

She almost felt bad for the guy. She wasn’t making excuses for what he did, but she could understand. The two of them just weren’t compatible and had no business being together. She’d done him a favor by breaking it off. He deserved someone he could be happy with, and so did she. She’d taken the lead in their relationship, practically making all the decisions, but she didn’t want that anymore. She needed someone strong and self-confident. Not a man who needed alcohol to drum up nerve or one who had to cheat in order to get attention. But she also didn’t want a domineering jerk who thought it was a woman’s job to obey. Ivy needed a good balance, an equal relationship. She was beginning to think such a man didn’t exist.

“I’m sorry too,” she said.

“I’ll be back, Ivy. Better than ever.”

“No, you won’t.”

“I’ll be the man you deserve. A take charge kind of guy.”

“It’s over, Wes. You know that. Can I please have back my key now?”

He mumbled something, then reached into his pocket and dug out her key, handing it to her.

“Thank you.”

Somehow, Ivy got him to the car and buckled him in. They were so much better off apart. The biggest mistake was waiting so long to end it. He’d find someone else. She could only wish the same for herself.

By the time she made it to his place, he was out cold. She rung his roommate, and fortunately, he was home. Todd came out to help get Wes inside, and then she was done. Truly done. Ready to move on with her life. Too bad that life was in shambles.

Shittiest. Day. Ever.

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