Page 142 of Shattered

“There isno such thingas you and me! You are…” She shook her head. “Youweremy best friend. I thought I knew you! Itrustedyou! At one point, I would have said I loved you. What about everything from before? Did you just forget all the shit that happened to me in those damn houses?What about Sara?”

Her breaths were coming in pants.

“I wanted you for so long. I bared my heart to you three years ago on that fucking swingset, and you acted as if it was a joke. Why would I sit by and wait for you?”

“Sam,” he shook his head in frustration. “It was never that I didn’t want you. You were always going to end up with me, anyone with eyes or half a brain could see that.”

“I’m not ending up with you.” Her grip tightened on the arm of the chair.

“Yes, you are.” He leaned back as he spoke the words with sheer confidence.

“No. I’m. Not.”

He shook his head with a little laugh. “Listen. I had my fun. I did the whole college experience, but I’m done with that now.”

“Are you serious?” Her words were barely a whisper.

“Of course. I’m ready for you and I to get together.”

He was absolutely delusional. She wanted to burst out laughing in hysterics.

“You can’t honestly think I would just wait around for you while you fucked everyone you laid your eyes on. I’m not just your doormat to walk all over,” she stated through gritted teeth.

Those unshed tears were long gone. Now she was filled with seething anger, and she knew without a doubt she would be perfectly fine never seeing him ever again.

It didn’t matter what story he had to tell her.

It didn’t matter if some of the details were twisted.

It didn’t matter.

He had hurt someone in a way that was absolutely unthinkable, and she would never be able to forgive him for it. He had thought he basically owned claim to her all these years. She was nothing but a possession to him.

Closure be damned.

She knew then that she didn’t need an answer.

She already had one.

“Goodbye, Christian.” She stood and walked to the door. It took all of her restraint to walk away instead of toward him. It took every fiber of her being to hold back the punch she wanted to land on his stupid face. She grabbed hold of the doorknob just as her vision started to blur.

Sam wiped her eyes.

She wouldnotcry for him. She wouldnotcry for the years and memories she was walking away from. But when her hand pulled away from her face, it was dry, and she realized there were no tears being shed. She turned to face him and the room tilted. He caught her right before her knees hit the ground.

“What is…” Her voice was too soft, and it felt as if it was moving a million miles faster than her lips. “What are you…” She looked up then to find the face she’d thought she knew better than any other now contorted into someone she didn’t even recognize.

“I saw her at your meeting. That’s why I wasn’t there when you left.”

He wasn’t making any sense. “What?” She blinked her eyes, willing her vision to clear.

“Millie's mom. Mrs. Barker,” he let the name slip from his lips with about as much disdain as one could muster. “After you walked into the room, she walked into a side door. Her car was parked on the street. They have a restraining order against me. So, I had to leave. I guess it’s lucky I wasn’t able to go to the luncheons with you this year.” He shrugged.

He led her to the bed where she practically fell onto her side. She was so damn tired all of a sudden, and her arms were so heavy.

It didn’t make sense.

She and Callum had spent most of the day in and out of sleep.

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