Page 118 of Must Have Been Love

“Have you heard from Skyler?”

His eyes narrow. “That’s none of your business.”

“I just want to know if she’s okay.” I put my hand on his shoulder and he shrugs it off.

“Do you?” he asks. “Do you really?”

“Of course I do. Just because we broke up doesn’t mean I don’t care.” Truth is, I’ve been looking at her name on my phone for the past two days. Wanting to call her. Wanting to hear her voice. Wanting to explain to her that even though I know this is for the best it’s killing me.

That I’ve decided that I won’t have any more relationships. I’m going to be a fucking monk for the rest of my life. It’s easier and it hurts a lot less.

“You didn’t break up with her. You tore her fucking heart out.” Jesse’s eyes narrow. “I told you what I’d do if you hurt her. I told you and you still did it.” He turns to look at me straight on. A man on the edge.

It takes one to know one.

“You want to hit me?” I ask him.

“So fucking bad I can taste it. I want to wipe that smug look off your face. I want to make you hurt the way you hurt her.”

“Then hit me,” I say, my voice thick. “Just do it.”

To my immense surprise he takes me at my word. I barely have a moment to prepare myself before his hard fist connects with my jaw, sending me stumbling back. My teeth bite into my tongue at the impact, and I can taste the blood.

“Fuck,” Jesse breathes. “I’m sorry.”

“Now will you tell me if she’s okay?” I say, the words stumbling over my bitten tongue.

He takes a deep breath. “She’s okay.”

“Where is she?”

A half smile pulls at his lips. “Oh no, you’d have to let me kick you in the balls for that answer.”

Luckily for me, I have some sense of self preservation. “I think I’ll pass on that.” I touch my jaw gingerly. Fuck, it hurts.

“Want me to get you some ice?” Jesse asks. He’s cradling his hand. It gives me a grim sense of satisfaction to know that he gets to suffer a little too.

“It’s fine.”

“You’re not going to sue me, are you?” His eyes widen with alarm. “Shit, if my boss finds out…”

“I’m not going to sue you,” I reassure him. “And nobody’s going to find out.” And because I’m not above blackmail I ask, “Has she left the country?”

“No.”

I let out a long breath. “Good.”

“Is it?”

“Yeah, it is.” I don’t know why, but it is.

“We’re heading into port,” Jesse says, wincing as he flexes his fingers. “Maybe I should stop fighting and actually do my job.”

thirty-four

SKYLER

It’s Lee’s last evening here. This is the longest she’s been away from Cora since she was born. We’ve spent the last three days taking long walks, talking about our pasts, our futures, our hopes, our dreams.

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