Page 43 of Home in Nevada

And it’s my fault. It’s my fault for how I used to treat this thing between us growing up—like it didn’t count, like it didn’t matter.

The pounding continues, even louder now, each knock rattling my nerves. My neighbors are going to call the cops at this rate. It’s the middle of the goddamn night, and the whole building probably hears it.

I storm over to the door, yanking it open, and there she is—Tiffany.

She immediately starts throwing her fists at my chest. It doesn’t hurt, but I shove her back, trying to create some space. Her face is red, her mascara streaked down her cheeks, and her words slur together. She’s drunk.

“You’re a fucking asshole!” she screams, tears streaming down her face as she nervously messes with her long brown hair. “I’m nothing to you! I’ve been nothing to you this whole time!”

“What the hell are you talking about? What are you even doing here?!” I snap, my frustration boiling over. “You cheated on me too, Tiffany! And you didn’t just mess up and kiss someone, Tiff—you went completely off the rails with it. So get off your fucking high horse!”

“It was a one-time thing! We were just friends, we were drunk!” she cries, her voice breaking. “It didn’t mean anything, Jeff. It was a mistake. But what you did to me, that wasn’t a mistake! You... you made out with a friend and then dropped me like we were nothing when you found out what I did. Like I didn’t even matter to you. Like you were waiting for a good reason to make it my fault. Like you never even really liked me. And what, another guy? You’re fucking heartless! I don’t even know who you are!”

I don’t respond, my jaw tightening as the memory of her hateful reaction to finding out I kissed another man resurfaces, stoking my anger like dry kindling. Is that what this is really about? She’s still spiraling over the fact that it was Jamie—and not some other woman?

I don’t buy for a second that what happened in her dorm room was a mistake. And honestly? I doubt it was even the first time. I’d had my suspicions for a while, especially when she didn’t seem pissed that I’d barely called her while I was away in Nevada.

Her gaze shifts, and she finally notices Jamie standing awkwardly by the couch, his face pale and his eyes wide.

“...Who the fuck is that?” she asks, pointing at him like he’s a piece of furniture. "Oh my God, is that him?!"

I glance back at Jamie. His expression has completely fallen, his brown eyes glassy with unshed tears. God, I hate seeing him like this.

“You need to leave,” I say firmly, turning back to Tiffany.

She doesn’t listen. Instead, she shoves past me, shoulder-checking me on her way inside. She marches straight up to Jamie, who looks frozen, like a deer in headlights.“You have no idea what you’re doing,” she spits at Jamie, her voice shaking with venom, the slur in her words only making her sound more unhinged. “You’re making a big mistake being with this idiot. Abig fucking mistake.”

She whirls around and jabs a finger at me, her mascara smudged and streaked down her face as she wipes her tears with the back of her hand.

“He’s selfish,” she snarls, spinning back to Jamie, who looks like he’s barely holding it together. “He doesn’t care about anyone. Anyone but himself!”

Before I can react, she grabs one of the fake plants from the side table and hurls it at me.

Holy shit.

I barely duck in time, the pot smashing against the drywall with a loud crack before clattering to the floor. Jamie’s eyes widen, frozen in shock, his body stiff like he doesn’t know whether to step in or run.

That’s it. I’ve had enough.

I grab Tiffany’s arm, yanking her toward the door. She thrashes and screams, clawing at me, but I don’t let go. This ends now.

“You’re making a big fucking mistake!” she shouts over her shoulder at Jamie. “He doesn’t care about you at all! He’s going to use you, just like he used me, and then he’s going to fuck someone else! He doesn’t care!”

Her words sting more than I want to admit, but I shove her out into the apartment complex hallway anyway. She swings her free arm, landing another hit against my shoulder.

“You’re fucking heartless, Jeff. I fucking hate you,” she screams.

“Then why the hell are you even here, Tiffany?” I shout, my voice cracking with frustration. “After everything you’ve done—after what you almost called me when I told you about Jamie? You need to quit it with the wine. You’re drinking too much, and... Tiff, there’s nothing else to say. I need you out of my life, so just get the fuck out!”

I go to slam the door in her face, but she catches it with her foot, shoving it back just enough to press her face against the crack.

“I’m here because you deserve to know what an asshole you are, you fucking prick,” she snarls, her voice dripping with rage. “You deserve to hurt like you hurt me. You can’t treat people this way, Jeff!”

I finally manage to shut the door and lock it, my hands shaking. I press my ear to the wood, listening as she bangs on it one last time before stomping away, hurling a final curse into the air.

“Well, damn,” I mutter, turning around. Jamie’s still standing by the couch, his face pale and his body rigid, like he’s bracing himself for something worse.

“Jamie, I’m sorry,” I say, my voice breaking the heavy silence.

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