Page 1 of The Heart You've Borrowed

Prologue

I fell in love with my best friend when we were kids.

He never made a move.

I never thought he felt the same way.

So I dated his best friend.

For seven years.

Until I had enough, I wanted more.

I wanted more out of life. I wanted to see the world.

I wanted to be happy.

I just never thought I would get my happy ending with him.

Not after all these years.

Chapter One

Charlie

“I don’t understand why this is always such an issue with you.” I threw my hands up, annoyed.

“I don’t understand why you can’t just listen to me and do as I say.” Jett grits out.

“Because you are being freaking ridiculous!” I scream.

“No, I’m not. I don’t understand why you must go out with your friends when you could stay with me.” He laughs a bitter laugh.

“Because they are my friends and I miss them. You do this every time! I never get to see anyone besides you. I miss my friends, my life!” I spit.

“You don’t need anyone but me!” He screams in my face.

“I can’t do this anymore Jett. You are too controlling, you won’t let me do anything. I can’t live like this! This isn’t how my life was supposed to be like!” The tears sting my eyes.

“You’d have nothing without me Char. You are nothing without me. Don’t ever forget that.” He slams his fist on the table making me jump.

Jett has never physically hurt me before but this mental abuse is driving me insane. He wasn’t always like this. I’m not sure when it changed but I miss the boy I fell in love with. I miss who we used to be.

“I’d have my freedom and to me, that’s all I need.” My voice cracks. He laughs.

“We’ll see about that.” He shakes his head, laughing before he stands from the table and goes into our bedroom.

I’ve known Jett since we were thirteen, he was the new kid at school and became friends with my best friend Lio. I was Lio’s next-door neighbor since we were two and were best friends until two years ago. Jett made me stop being his friend when Lio and Jett got into an argument about how Jett was treating me. I miss Lio. We spent most of our lives together and my life hasn’t been the same since.

He was my person, my home, my safe place. Without him, I feel empty. I haven’t dared to reach out to him in case Jett found out. I don’t want to deal with the war he would start. I know he recently moved to Texas to start a company with his best friend, I still stalk his socials while I’m at work on my work computer so Jett won’t know. He looks like he’s doing good in life, I’m happy for him. I just wish I was there to see it with him. He deserves it. Growing up, he didn’t have a good home life, so I’m proud of him for living his dream. I wish I could do that.

I lean back in my chair and close my eyes. How did my life turn out like this? We were so happy and now? Now I hate coming home because of him. I hate when I see his name on my phone, I hate hearing his voice, and I hate when he touches me. I hate him. I’m not sure how it got to this point but I know I need to leave. But he’s right, I’m nothing without him. He got me a job at his friend’s company, and he financially supports us since most of my money goes towards my student loans and my mother’s care. She was diagnosed with Dementia two years ago and since we have no other family it all falls on me. I don’t mind doing it but if I left Jett I wouldn’t be able to afford her care and a place to live, or food, or anything really. I feel so damn stuck. I hate feeling like this.

Growing up my mom made me promise I would never depend on a man, sorry mom. Guess that’s just another thing for you to be disappointed in me for. She has never been my biggest fan but the last few years have been rough. She thinks I’m my older sister. They never got along. My sister Katie passed away five years ago, in a car accident. She was driving drunk and drove her car into a tree. God, I miss her. I hate her for being so stupid and getting behind the wheel but I would give anything to bring her back. She was the best big sister anyone would ask for. But she made some poor decisions and Mom never let her forget it. So now that Mom has lost most of her memory she thinks I’m her and never lets me forget how much of a disappointment Katie was. I know I shouldn’t let it get to me but it does. I miss how things used to be. I miss who I used to be.

I know I need to get up and go into the bedroom and pretend everything is fine, if I don’t it will result in the silent treatment. I hate when he does that. My anxiety hates when he does that. I think that’s why he does it because he knows how bad my anxiety gets. God, I hate him.

Things need to change, I need to make a plan. I need to leave. I have to. I can’t live like this anymore. I can’t live a life feeling unloved, unwanted, and trapped. I just want to be happy.

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