Page 138 of A Love That Broke Us
Nothing.
She reaches for the handle.
“Give me my fucking backpack!” I’m yelling now, and I regret it the second the words leave my mouth.
She stops, turns suddenly, and shoves my pack into my hands. “Fuck you, Jensen!”
She backs toward the door, tears falling hard with every step. The look on her face rips my goddamn heart out, gutting me alive.
“No, Al.” The words rush out—shaky, desperate, full of fear. “Don’t go. Don’t fucking go.”
Her hand trembles as she opens the door, and I hate myself—more than I ever have.
The door slams shut.
She’s gone.
My jaw clenches, and the tears sting like fire behind my eyes. “Fuck,” I grit through my teeth. I grip my backpack, holding on to the only thing I have left.
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”
I chuck my pack across the room, yelling out another “FUCK,” and drop to my knees. My hands wrap around my head, and I fold to the floor, sobbing.
And I pray.
I fucking pray.
I’m not even sure to who—or what. Anyone. Anything that’ll listen.
God. Buddha. Allah. Motherfucking Earth. I don’t know. I’ve never prayed before.
Please.
Don’t let me lose her.
She’s all I’ve got.
She’s the only thing that matters.
Please.
Help me.
Chapter Forty-Four
ALLEY
THEN
The comfortof Leo’s kitchen feels grounding compared to the chaos I just came from. He’s making me a cappuccino. The smell of coffee fills the air, and the quiet sound of him moving around is the first thing that’s felt normal in weeks.
After my fight with Jensen, I went to Matt’s. I slept in one of his guest rooms and caught an 8:00 a.m. flight to Chicago. So much for figuring things out with work—or giving Leo time to prepare. I texted him late last night and asked if I could come in the morning. I called my boss first thing and took the next few days off. I told her it was a family emergency.
It’s 11:00 a.m. now, and I’m exhausted. I didn’t sleep at all last night. I just kept replaying everything in my head. The things he said. The things he didn’t. The way he chose his backpack over me. The way he didn’t stop me. Didn’t say anything. Didn’t fight.
I left.
I had a suitcase, and he just… watched me leave.
