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“With… Dr. Sloane.”
“Who the fuck is—” His eyes widen in realization, the anger and horror clear on his face. “The fucking vet?The fucking vet who hit on you while I was right fucking there andtouchedyou?Heasked you out? And you said yes? Tohim?”
NowI’mupset. I put my hands on my hips and take a step toward him, fire running through my veins. “I know it’s hard to believe anyone would want to date me, William. But yes, he did ask me out. And yes, I did say yes.”
He squeezes his eyes shut and pinches the bridge of his nose between his fingers. “Why did you say yes? I thought we agreed to do this friends-with-benefits thing exclusively.”
“Well, you disappeared Friday night, and he asked and he was really nice and stuff with everything he did for Ginger, so I said yes. You were gone the next morning without a single word, so I just figured you wouldn’t care.”
“You figured I wouldn’t—? I— I wassoexhausted. I had been working like an insane person that entire week—youknewthat. Then I had that event—which you also knew about since you were there. And I stayed up all night while you cried yourself to sleep, trying to make sure I heard your phone in case they called. I only got about an hour’s worth of sleep before I had to wake up to run an emergency errand. So I went and did what I had to do, then decided to go home to shower and change—I was still wearing that tux, if you remember—fully intending to check up on you after. I was desperate to know how Ginger was doing and how I could help, but I fell asleep immediately after my shower, as soon as I sat down on my bed for a second. I’ve been working myself down to the bone lately. For Christ’s sake, I was so tired I slept for almost fourteen hours straight and—” He stops mid sentence to take a breath, almost angry. “I didn’t mean to disappear. That was a mistake, which I tried to correct. Yours was intentional. And it’s thesecondtime you pull something like this. The first sign of trouble and you cut and run.”
I press my lips together, unsure whether I believe him. “Fine. I’ll agree that what I did wasn’t nice. But we agreed this would stop once we decided we wanted to see other people or this stopped being fun. This is me wanting to see other people,” I lie.
I don’t know how I get the words out without them shaking even a single time, but they do. They sound like those of a determined, strong woman—the complete opposite of how I feel. Deep down, I know that I’m weak and fragile, because if he pushes just a bit, just the smallest amount, he might be able to convince me to go back to our original arrangement. It would rip me to shreds, but I’d do it. Just to be near him. Just to have any piece of him.
God, I’m pathetic.
He looks at me and narrows his eyes. “Is this you thanking him for taking care of Ginger or you wanting to see other people?”
“I-I—Both? But why does it matter? You and I aren’t—You—Andhe—Plus, he didn’t justtake careof Ginger. He also managed to get them to lower the cost of my bill. Remember that estimate? Well, it went from eight-thousand to almost a total of four-hundred dollars. He was kind enough to do that.”
Will’s nostrils flare, his pupils black. “He fucking told youhewas the one who got you a discounted price on her treatment? Andthat’swhy you’re going? Did he make you feel obligated to go on this date to pay him back for his alleged help?” he practically roars, his face redder than I’ve ever seen. “Because you don’t owe that guy a fucking thing, Bridge. You don’t owe anyone anything. Not even if they somehow cover your vet bill.” He wipes a hand over his mouth, eyes a little manic.
I shake my head. “It’s fine. He’s a cool guy and?—”
“You like him?” he cuts me off. “Can you stand there right now and tell me you like him?”
I shrug once. “He’s nice.”
“High praise,” Will deadpans.
I roll my eyes and cross my arms in front of my chest. “He also happens to be successful and handsome and charming and smart and into animals. So.”
“Okay, well, I’m all those things, too. So why not me? Why not me, Bridget?”
I stop breathing and drop my arms. And jaw.
My heart races in my chest, trying to catch up to his words.
“W-What did you just say?”
Will swallows once, eyes wide, the whole world on his shoulders. So beautifully devastated, my love.
He steps toward me and takes my hands in his, kissing each one before speaking. “Why. Not. Me? I’m here. And I have beenachingto be yours for fuckingmonths, Bridget Quinn. And five seconds after meeting this guy, you decidehe’sthe one who gets to break through to your heart? I’ve been trying to chip away at this shield around it, trying to find my way in since the beginning of time, it feels like. And I was fine just being your friend, I think. Friends who fuck was even better. But I can’t be your friend if you’re with someone else. I can’t see you with him or hear about you together and be okay with it. To play second fiddle to some guy who will never get close to deserving you. Because you are just that amazing, Bridget. I can’t see anyone deserving you. Not even me.
“But is that why you ghosted me? Because you decided you liked this guy?” Will’s grip tightens around my hands, desperate, like he’s afraid if he lets go I might float away. For good. “Am I so easy to dismiss?”
“Will,” I whisper, “what are you talking about? Of course you’re not. You’re the most important person in my life,” I confess.
“Then why the ghosting?”
“I… don’t know.” It’s all I can manage to say, the storm of emotions moving too quick and wild for me to pin down a single thought.
He stares at me quietly for a moment, his eyes bloodshot as he rolls his lips before nodding once. “Okay,” he says, dropping my hands. “Okay. If that’s what you want, I’ll let you go. I just want you to be happy.”
“Wait, what is even happening? Can we go back to what you said before? What do you mean you’ve been trying to chip away at my… what was it? The shield around my heart? What do you mean?” I realize my voice has reached a tone of desperation that is almost comedic, but his words don’t make sense because… “Wait, wait, wait. Are you saying… Do you have feelings for me?”
Will rolls his eyes at me. Classic. “I just told you I did. And I’vebeentelling you for months. In actionsandin words.Yes, I fucking have feelings for you. Of course I fucking do. I amdesperatefor you, Bridget Quinn.” His hands come to my waist, fingers digging into me in that way they always do when he holds me there.
