Page 80 of Cross My Heart

“Yeah, I have.” Scarlett nods. “But your balls have never been big enough to confess.”

“I guess they grew.”

“Prime time, too,” she spits, her voice dripping with venom. “You said we’re over, right?”

“I didn’t say it, but you know we are.”

“Yeah, I know.” Her bottom lip trembles now, and I take a step toward her. I hate seeing her cry. Regardless of everything, I will always love her. But she takes a step back, raising her hand to halt me. “You’re a fucking coward, a liar, a cheater. But the most disappointing thing? You just let your entire life go by and never went after a single thing you ever wanted.”

My eyes sting, and she keeps going.

“No professional career, no love, nothing.” She shakes her head. “You have nothing.”

I stay quiet as tears stream down my face, and I want to yell that I have him. But I just let her get it all off her chest. I deserve this. I do. Even if it fucking hurts.

“I deserve that,” I whisper.

Tears gather in Scarlett’s eyes, and she nods. “I’m gonna go stay with Tiffany.”

“Alright.”

“I’ll be taking a shower first.”

“Of course.” I sigh. “Please don’t feel like you have to leave. This is your home too.”

“And watch you be in love with someone else?” Scar chuckles. “No thanks.”

“Scar—” I don’t know why I’m continuing this conversation; I know it’s futile. And it’s only going to hurt her more. But I need to get this off my chest. “You’ve watched me be in love with him our whole lives?—”

“It’s not like I came between you.” She laughs—cackles. “You’re the one who came after me?”

“Because you kept coming onto me!” I snap. “It confused me, and then I got feelings for you and?—”

“You wanna know why?” She smiles sadly, and my stomach bottoms out. “Because I loved you too.”

I nod as I process that, and I realize I need to let go of the petty feud between them. It happened when we were thirteen, for fuck’s sake. We were just children. “You’re right.” I sigh, running a hand down my face. “That shouldn’t matter anymore. I’m sorry.”

“Sorry isn’t gonna cut it anymore, Tyler,” she snaps. “We are done. I want a divorce, and I want you the fuck out of my life.”

“I—”

“Oh, and fuck you,” Scarlett says.

“I’m so sorry, Scarlett,” I tell her. “I’m sorry it came to this.”

“I’m not.” She shakes her head. “I’ve put up with shit our whole marriage. I’ve been slowly dying inside the entire time. Crying over you like a stupid bitch. But no more. I’m over you, Tyler. And I will never forgive you. I’m going to Tiffany’s, and I’ll return on my day off to get my things. And if I can help it, I never want to see you again after that.”

“Fuck,” I whisper. “I never wanted this for us. I never wanted to hurt you?—”

“Little too late for that.” She shrugs. “We’re done. Forever.”

I nod. I deserve that. I know it. But it still doesn’t hurt any less.

With those last words, I leave the bedroom. I knew this was going to happen. That she’d never forgive me, and that she’d want me out of her life. But nothing could’ve ever prepared me for the reality of it. For the pain I’m feeling because of it.

Noah comes out of the guest room and walks right toward me. I don’t know what I was expecting, but him coming after me wasn’t it. I thought he’d stay in his room until all of this blew over. Then again, Scarlett is probably going to leave right after her shower. There’s nothing stopping me from having a conversation with Noah right now, but for some reason, it doesn’t feel like the right time to address the elephant in the room.

“Is she okay?” Noah asks quietly, coming to the kitchen island and taking a seat on one of the barstools.

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