Page 164 of The 21-Day Boyfriend
“That’s what he said, too.” Jake sits down next to me, forcing me to face him. “But actually…”
“It was just a kiss. And it was forced onto me.”
“It didn’t seem so forced from where I was standing.”
“So you saw the whole thing?”
“We all did,” he says. “And not thewholething – I don’t think. We got there right when you let yourself get caught up in all the cheating – something I don’t think you ever considered. Actually, I think you condemned it, the way you’ve always condemned anything to do with infidelity, integrity..."
“Are you done?”
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“On your intentions.”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you planning to fall back into the arms of that bastard surgeon, or…?”
“I’m not falling back into anyone’s arms. Colm and I… That relationship is over.”
“That wasn’t what you thought a few weeks ago,” Jake says.
Of course it wasn’t. I hadn’t met Sean then. I didn’t know that there were relationships built on respect, where both halves were considered completely equal. Where there was space for smiles, kindness, and eyes that can speak without you saying a word, and hands reaching with no ulterior motive, with no end in sight.
“He’s a good guy,” Jake says, bringing me back to this moment: the one where I ruined everything with my bare hands. “He’s forgiven me, you know.”
“Mmm?”
“For the whole thing with Mila, for the lies… He’s forgiven me for not telling him right away, for sleeping with his sister, for… You know, for that whole mess with Ethan.”
“I’m glad things have been smoothed over between you.”
“Maybe you can smooth them over, too.”
“I’ve tried calling…”
“Calling? Come on, you can do better than that.”
“What am I supposed to do? Show up at his door and throw myself to the floor, begging for forgiveness?”
“Actually, you couldn’t really stoop any lower. Have you seen this place?” Jake looks around. There are a handful of empty bottles strewn around, discarded takeout containers. “You never order takeaway.”
“That’s not true. I do sometimes.”
“Not even when you’re sick. And I’ve known you for fifteen years.”
“What do you want me to tell you?”
“The truth.”
“Why don’tyoutell me the truth, seeing as you’re the one who seems to know everything?”
“If you want.” He gets up and straightens his shirt, as if he were about to make a speech. “Colm was never really in love with you.”
“What does that have to do with…?”
