Page 103 of Don't Fall in Love

“I’m going to get a cab.”

“Meghan would never forgive me if I let you get a cab home.” Oh, he’s tried to pull out the big guns.

“I’m a big girl. I can look after myself. Now you’re just wasting my time, so goodbye.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He bends his knees, crowding into my personal space and before I know it, he’s straightening up with me over his shoulder.

What the fuck.

“Put me down,” I demand.

He ignores me, even as I smack at his back. When he reaches the town car, I hear the door open and then I’m lowered inside. I fold my arms over my chest, huffing out a breath of annoyance.

Neither of us speaks as the car navigates the streets of New York, and when we pull up outside of my building, I’m surprised as he follows me out of the car.

“What are you doing?” I ask, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk.

He shrugs a shoulder before he says, “Just making sure you get home safe.”

He is unbelievable.

“Well, as you can see, I’m home. Goodbye, Sebastian.”

I cross my arms over my chest, stopping on the sidewalk as I wait for him to leave. We’re at a standstill, neither of us budging. He puts his hands into his jeans pockets as if he has all the time in the world. He might but I don’t and it’s cold, so when he shows no sign of moving on, I stomp my foot and march into my building.

Sebastian chuckles as he follows closely behind. He walks into the elevator with me, then to my front door. I push my front door open, walking into the living room, fully expecting the door to close behind me but when I turn around, I find him standing there. His hands in his pockets again.

My arms spread wide as I say, “As you can see, I’m home safe and sound. You can leave now.”

He doesn’t say anything, he just stares at me, a look I can’t quite decipher on his face.

God, I hate him.

No I don’t.

Yes. I. Do!

Self-destructive mode kicks in, spinning me back to the front door, done with him and whatever game he’s trying to play with me.

“When you leave, can you make sure you lock up? Oh, and slide your key under the door. Not like you need it anymore,” I call over my shoulder.

I have the door open an inch when his palm slaps against the wood, forcing it shut. My eyes latch onto the platinum band on his ring finger.Why does he still have that on?His body cages me in, as his arm snakes around my waist and he pulls me into his body, burying his nose in my hair. “Don’t fucking test me, Alex. I’m barely holding on.”

When I don’t say a word, he turns us toward my bedroom, my back pressed to his front as he forces me to walk down the hallway.

I can’t do this.

I can’t pretend that everything is okay. He can’t just waltz back in here and act like everything is fine or that he has a say in what I do or who I do it with. Our whole relationship has been based on a lie.

Pulling away from him, I come to a stop, my arms banding around me as I turn to face him. “I can’t do this.”

“Alex, please,” he pleads.

Please, what? Let him trample over my heart? Let him have this one night and then walk away leaving me even more heartbroken?

“I can’t pretend like you haven’t broken my heart, Sebastian.”

Tears spring in my eyes and I don’t bother to keep them at bay this time. They fall down my cheeks, gathering on my chin before dripping onto my chest. It’s time he saw the damage he’s done.

---