Page 6 of Keeper
“You’re over it?” I repeated. I was skeptical, to say the least.
“Yep. I’m over it!” Nodding profusely, she beamed happily to show me she meant it. “You’re right. You were honest with me since day one, so I don’t have a right to be mad. I’m just being a crazy, jealous bitch.” She squeezed her eyes shut and grimaced—the face of someone swallowing a bitter pill. “But I’m okay with waiting however long it takes until youareready. I’m even okay with you screwing as many sluts as you want, Tanner.”
“No, you’re not.”
“OfcourseI’m not. But if that’s what you have to do before you’re ready to settle down, then I guess I just have to get over it, because I don’t want to lose you.”
I let out a sigh. Unfortunately, I’ve been in this situation enough to know that once the breakup cycle begins, it doesn’t end—it only gets more dramatic and more painful each time. The problems are never fixed. They’re only buried deeper, where they fester.
“No,” I said gently. “You deserve better, Kelsey. This isn’t good for you.I’mnot good for you. We both know it.”
“But …”
I shook my head. “We shouldn’t do this anymore.”
“No—don’t.”
“It’s for the best, Kelsey. Deep down, you know I’m right.”
I turned my back and quietly started dressing myself. She grieved in silence. Her tears fell to the comforter with a steady patter.Plop. Plop.
“Well.” I slung my suit jacket over my arm. I couldn’t look her in the eye. “I guess this is it.”
“Yeah. I guess so, Tanner.”
I have to admit, I felt rotten. Part of me wished like hell I could be the guy she wanted—the guy that all the previous girls wanted. But that guy was long gone. That guy didn’t live up to his hype. That guy never made it to the NHL.
Wanting to cheer her up, I went to give her one last kiss on the cheek before I left. But she dodged my lips so fiercely, she almost toppled over on the bed.
“No. Don’t try to kiss me—you’re fuckingdumpingme! You know how many guys have dumped me?None.You’re the first. Congratulations!” she sang sarcastically. “Just get thehellout of my apartment, asshole. And don’t eventhinkabout texting me next time you’re in the city. All you do is screw with my head.”
I nodded and made for the door.
But as I pulled her bedroom door shut, she stopped me, a saccharine note in her voice. “Hey, Tanner?”
“Yeah?”
“I hope you makeallthe millions of dollars your cold little heart deserves.”
After I let that sink in, I closed the door and quietly left.
3
Ainsley
I still didn’t know where I was driving or when I’d stop. I had no plan. All I knew was that Ihadto get asfaraway from everything as possible.
But I needed to pull over when my gas tank light came on hours later, just outside of Wichita.
I put on a baseball cap and hopped out of my car. I pulled the brim of my hat lower, afraid that someone might spot me. No, I didn’t know a single person in Wichita—but I had no idea how bad this thing really was. Or how far and fast it was spreading. I mean, those creepy texts had area codes from all over the country.
I didn’t evenknowthose people—but they knew me.
The bell jangled as I entered the convenience shop. Keeping my gaze low, I shuffled over to the coffee machine and poured one of my favorite guilty indulgences: a gas station cappuccino. I didn’t care how bad it was for me—I neededsomethingthat could make me feel good.
I brought my coffee to the counter. Afraid the pot-bellied, middle-aged clerk might recognize me, I didn’t dare look him in the eye.
“Is that all, Miss?” he asked.
