Page 102 of Cruel King

“You don’t know who I am anymore, Safi. You should go.”

“Please,” Safia said, grasping my hand and tugging me closer to her. “Please, can we just talk?”

I closed my eyes and breathed out heavily. “Why are you doing this?”

“Because I love you.”

Three words. So easy for someone else to say. Impossible ones for me to get past my teeth. Why couldn’t I say them like everyone else? Why couldn’t I tell Gavin even though I was sure that must be what I was feeling? Still, I couldn’t say it.

I tugged my hand back. “Fine.” I sighed. “Fine.”

“When Roni showed up, I wasn’t home. Shebroke intothe house, Whit.”

I furrowed my brow. “She didn’t say that. She said she was waiting for you in my bed.”

“I know. I know she said that. I tried to tell you. But you’d already made up your mind. You’d already boxed all my stuff up and changed the locks. Without allowing me to even explain.”

I pushed past her to pour myself a glass of water. I didn’t want to be having this conversation. I’d avoided it long enough, and now, it was here, where I couldn’t avoid it any longer.

“Don’t talk to me like I’m stupid,” I said after I had a long drink. “I had all the proof I needed right in front of me.”

“Roni and I didn’t get back together. I was furious with her for the shit she pulled.”

“What? Like the shit you’re pulling right now?”

Safi took a step back, her hand going to her heart. “It’s not the same.”

“No? You’re not here to ruin my wedding?”

She bit her lip. “I wasn’t going to come, but I heard the worst about him, Whit. He’s a player. He’s slept with half of New York. How do you know he’s the one for you? A year with me and a few months with him? I don’t understand what you’re even doing.”

“Gavin was a player,” I said meeting her dark gaze. “I was actually his wingman for a few years before I ever met you. We were friends. When I came back, things changed. People can change, Saf.”

“Is that what you think? That you’ve changed?” Safi took two long strides, boxing me against the counter.

I glared at her. “What are you doing?”

“You still love me. I know you do.”

“I never told you that I loved you.”

“And you’ve told him?” she demanded.

I turned my face away from her.

She snorted. “Of course not. You’re doing this, and you don’t even love him.” She put two fingers under my chin and tipped my face back up to hers. One I had adored for so long. The girl I’d thought I might have a future with. Only for it to shatter so effortlessly. “You don’thaveto do this.”

I jerked my head out of her grasp and pushed myself away from her. “I will not become the thing that I hate,” I snarled at her. “Of course I had feelings for you, Safi. But I don’t go back to mistakes. No matter what I felt for you. You being here is not only cruel, but also insulting.”

Safia nodded, swiping tears from her eyes as she looked away from me. “I see.”

“You should go.”

“I’ll go,” she agreed slowly. “If you tell me you love him.”

“I don’t have to tell you anything. I’m happy. Isn’t that enough for you?”

“As I thought.” She was silent for another few seconds. “It’s not enough for me. It shouldn’t be enough for you either.”

---