Page 99 of Manhattan Secret
Oh.
I blink, refusing to let any new tears fall.
Summer flings aren’t supposed to feel this sad.
But then, I’ve fallen in love with my fling.
We’ve had a great time together.
All things come to an end, right?
Be happy it happened, not because it’s ending.
Then why aren’t I happy?
Why do I feel like I’m dying?
A lie is easier to swallow because if we told the truth, it’s an inevitability as the sun rising that it will kill us.
I’m happy for him.
I want only the best for the boy with the blue eyes who makes me see in color again.
“I can’t believe this bullshit. Can’t believe the woman I saw in that bar and who took a chance at something amazing, is giving up at the first difficulty. For what, Delaney? There’s no logical reason for this, other than you’re scared to trust me. To trust yourself. You’re so scared tolive,you’d rather retreat into your mouse skin. I don’t know what made you run from Oregon, but you foundme. That shit was meant to be.”
I hear the mad tone growing colder by the second and though it hurts me, it’s probably better if he gets angry with me.
Anger means he moves on and forgets me.
“Don’t fucking say my name like I see you’re about to. And don’t fucking spout platitudes about how great my life will be. I could have had it all, Laney, you and college. It’s not an either-or situation. But I won’t beg. Not for this. Not when you can’t give us a chance.”
He comes at me like a tank at war and grips the sides of my head, tipping it back until my neck hurts.
His eyes, so dark and sharp and filled with pain and anger. Soothing him is instinctual, but he won’t allow it.
“This is going to be the last time you see me, Delaney. I don’t do forgiveness. I don’t do reconciliations. When I’m done, I’m done. I cut a ten-year friendship like it was nothing…” he reminds me.
My blood ices over.
He isn’t leaving any room for change or for seeing him in the future at any point.
He thinks I don’t care enough so he’s done with me now.
My lower lip trembles, and he traces it with his thumb, his eyes following.
“If you want to not be a scared mouse, now is the time to say so.”
I love you. Please don’t go. Take me with you. I can’t live without you.
“Be happy, Lachlan.” I squeeze out through my choked vocal cords and I watch his eyes turn blank before he crushes my mouth in a hard, punishing kiss that is over in seconds.
He doesn’t look back.
Not as he walks down the hallway, or climbs into his car, or even when he drives away.
And only when I can’t hear the engine anymore do I sink to the floor and weep my heartache out for loving and letting my soul go.
Easy come.
