Page 187 of Now and Forever

“Oxford happened. Is that enough for you to understand?” My voice shook, not because my tears threatened to spill itself, but because of anger. I wanted to claw his eyes out for being such an asshole.

“Oxford?”

“Yes, Oxford! According to your bitch of a stepmom and Poppy, that’s where you’re heading soon. I don’t see why you’re wasting your time with me when you’re going to leave and reunite with Poppy, anyway. So leave me alone. I don’t want to be near you.”

“Oxford was an option; that much is true. But that was all planned before you and I got together.”

Drew would have me believe anything. He was full of bullshit.

“I don’t care what you do. I just want you to move out the moment we get home.”

“Please don’t do this. You’re being too harsh.” He tried to reach out, but I swatted his hand away.

“Give him a chance. He seems sorry enough,” the driver commented, obviously entertained.

Drew had promised never to hurt me, but by not disclosing his plans, he still had. How much more was he hiding from me, because I doubted this would be the last.

Wiping the tear that fell down my cheek, I shivered, feeling quite cold all of a sudden. Then, out of nowhere, I felt him drape his dinner jacket around me, enveloping my senses with his intoxicating aroma. Had I not been almost freezing, I would have shoved it in his face.

“I’m sorry, Chlo. I just didn’t think it was that relevant since I changed my mind. Why would I wanna go there when I have you back here?” he rasped out, beyond solemn.

Blocking him out wasn’t easy, but I did the best I could. And when the cab arrived right outside the building, I hurried out, leaving Drew to pay for it while I headed straight into the elevator. Once it opened, I frantically pushed the button to get to our floor, but before it had the chance to close its doors, Drew slipped through in the nick of time. Though he had been running after me, he didn’t look displaced. It irritated me to no end that he still looked as though he had just stepped out of a cologne ad, suave and positively polished.

Standing a few feet away from him, I could feel his eyes boring into me, but I didn’t dare meet his gaze. I was completely done with all this useless drama that I’d rather not be a part of.

“Forgive me, Chloe,” he pleaded.

There was no way I would yield back into his arms. I had given him one chance, one fucking chance, and he had fucked it up.

“After you’re done packing, do me a favor and leave your keys, as well,” I stated as the elevator dinged.

After stepping out, I pulled out my key to let us through the door while he followed right behind me. I wanted him gone, and taking the keys would make sure some of my privacy was restored.

“Chloe, please, don’t do this to me. Don’t do this to us.” He tried to block me from getting through my bedroom door, making me fume even more.

“Move. Out. Of. My. Way.” Or this would get ugly really fast.

He was unmoving. “No, not until you hear me out.” He shifted me toward the corner of the wall, both hands planted on either side of my head as he breathed down on me. “What do you want me to say? Tell me, damn you! Fucking tell me so I can fix this.”

“Nothing. I’m just … done.” Plain and simple.

“I’m not going to allow that to happen, babe. I just got you back. You’re crazy to even think that I’m going to give you up just like that. No! Fuck no!” he roared.

“Let me go,” I whispered, meeting his wild gaze. “That’s the only way I can forgive you.”

Pain crossed his face. “I’d rather die than lose you.”

“You already did, Drew. It’s too late now. You’re never going to stop hurting me. That’s just what you do. I should’ve known better than to trust your word.”

“Don’t say that,” he croaked out before cupping my face with his cold hands. “Baby, please. I fucking love you. I’ve always loved you. Do you want me to get on my knees to ask for forgiveness? Because I will. Just tell me what it’ll take.”

Love? He was pulling out the big lies.

“I don’t feel the same way about you. You killed every trace of it.”

He took a sharp intake of breath, as if I had just hurt him where it hurt the most. “Do you really mean that?”

Fuck. I was dying inside.

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