Page 56 of Love Me Like It's Real
“What a douche. I’m so sorry. That’s awful.”
“Needless to say I moved out the same day. I tried to move on. I tried to get over what a fool I’d been. A few months later, I met Ben. But he was cut from the same cloth. Thankfully it only took six months to figure him out, if that’s any sort of consolation.”
“Jeez, talk about bad luck.”
“So that’s why I stopped dating. I stopped relationships and promises of love and bullshit. It’s not worth it.”
His hand slides up to my knee and even though it only stays there a second or two I can feel the ghost of his touch long after it’s gone.
“You poor thing. I’m so sorry you had to go through all that.”
“Me too,” I say.
He sits back on his seat and we breathe in unison for a moment, two moments, three, when he turns around and shakes his head.
“You know what? Jack was never going to work,” he announces as if it’s a revelation.
“Oh yeah?” I ask. “And why is that?”
“Hello! You share the same first name? That’s just…no, it wouldn’t do. And Ben? He was destined to fail.”
“Really?”
“Of course. He was a rebound. I think you got it all wrong. I think you gave up too soon. I think your guy is still out there somewhere.”
I huff. “I don’t think so.”
“I’m sure he is.”
“Does that mean your guy is out there too?” I ask and raise my eyebrow.
He shrugs. “Probably. But I’m too lazy to go find him.”
“Same.” I nod.
Felix laughs. “We’re pathetic.”
“I don’t know. I’d rather be pathetic than a cheater. Or…a piece of toxic trash.”
He nods, gazing into my eyes and I hold his gaze as if it’s the most precious thing in the whole wide world. Two broken and broken-hearted people who share more than I care to admit and who might, in another lifetime, be perfect for each other.
But I’m not willing to risk it. Not again. Not a third time. We all know third time is the fucker of all fuckers. I don’t think my fragile heart could take another betrayal.
“We…we should get going.” I clear my throat and turn the engine back on.
Felix turns to face the front again, nodding. “Yeah. Yeah. I need the girls to see you drop me off after all, right?”
“Right.” I take the short drive to Felix’s home trying to cast away any thoughts of love and soulmates and any such crap and focus instead on the job.
I open the door for him and walk him to the front door.
“They’re watching,” I mumble.
“I knew they would,” he says.
We reach his door and there’s a muffled shriek that comes from their direction and I furrow my brows in confusion.
“They probably think you’re going to kiss me good night,” he says with a dismissive shake of his head.
