Page 65 of Come Here and Kiss Me

I hatethat I sound weak, but love makes you do funny things. Never did I understand that statement until this very second.

Ronan: We can talk about it. Something happened.

She doesn’t respond.

Not after an hour.

Or two.

Or five.

And when I’m sitting there all alone in my bedroom, surrounded in her scent, her decor, and the things from her place, the memories in this bed, I can’t take it anymore and punch a wall with my fist.

“Fuck!” I scream from deep within my chest.

I hate my father.

I hate my life.

I hate the lies that have all added up. One right after the other. I have nothing left. Not my family. Not my wife. Not my world. All I’m left with is empty answers.

With my knuckles bleeding, I throw my cell phone across the room next. I know this is the end…

Of the life I wanted so desperately with her.

CHAPTER25

Brooklyn

Maybe some people are meant to just be alone. Like there’s something wrong with the way they love. That’s the conclusion I came to at Aspen’s place, where I’ve stayed the past few nights.

I adjust the jacket slightly so it doesn’t look quite as tight. Aspen’s a size smaller than me, and I don’t have anything else to wear. I’m not going back to Ronan’s.

I’d absolutely lose it if I did.

I think I’d beg him to love me if I ever saw him again, and I’ll never forgive myself if I do that.

I’ve loved my father for as long as I can remember. He was my hero growing up. All those memories came back to me over the past few days. My mother called me her mini me and loved me too.

We were happy once.

What happened?

I know they loved me back then. When I was just a kid and when they loved each other. Then everything changed, and at some point, however, that love just wasn’t enough.

My mother hasn’t said she loves me since I decided to stay with my father, and my father certainly doesn’t love the person I’ve become.

And now Ro.

I love him more than I’ve loved anyone. I’ve never felt so utterly and completely destroyed.

So … hopeless.

Like I’m just not meant for this life.

“Mr. Stagert will see you now,” the secretary says from her desk in the waiting room.

My financial manager has always had impeccable decor. It’s all clean, modern, and minimalist, but the pieces reek of wealth. As my heels click in beat with my heart and I follow the secretary down the hall, I realize I couldn’t afford a single piece right now.

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