“Because I’m done with you. Don’t bother me. Don’t call me. And don’t even look at me.”

He dropped the box on the ground. “Why are you mad at me? What did I do?”

I tried not to laugh. “Jace, just go.”

“No, what the hell did I do?”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “How’s Sarah?”

His face quickly became pale.

I waited for him to stay something. He didn’t.

“That’s why, Jace.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

“Seriously? You aren’t going to come clean? Even now? You’re an even bigger coward than I thought.”

“I have a friend named Sarah, but I don’t see why that’s relevant.”

I wanted to scream in frustration. I couldn’t believe I was with this loser for so long. Even worse, I couldn’t believe this loser played me for so long. “If you come clean to me about everything you’ve been doing, we can have a full-length conversation. But if you’re going to keep hiding it, then just go.”

“I don’t have anything to hide.”

God, I hated him. I pulled out my phone and sent him the message. “Watch the video.”

He didn’t pull his phone out.

“I said watch it, Jace.”

He didn’t make a move.

“It shows you and Sarah getting hot and heavy at the bar.” I tried not to get emotional about this. It hurt me like hell but I couldn’t let him know that. I refused to let it happen. “I don’t even care, Jace. I’m just ticked you lied to me for as long as you did. I’m ticked that you didn’t let this relationship die when I brought it up. I never would have known how much of an ass you were and I wouldn’t hate you as much as I do. But that wasn’t the route you took. Now take your shit and get away from me.”

He breathed hard, unsure what to do.

“Jace, we’re done. You can try to lie your way out of it but nothing you say is going to change anything. Get your stuff and get out of my life forever.”

He picked up the box again.

“All you had to do was break up with me. That’s it.” I shook my head slightly. “Tell Sarah I feel sorry for her. Because you’ll do exactly what you did to me to her. Maybe not now, but maybe in a few months or a year. It’ll happen. And she may not be as nice as I am.”

He stepped back, holding the box in his hands.

I held onto my last bit of reserve, not letting me break down in front of him.

“Alaska—”

“Leave.” Ash’s voice came from behind him. It was low and deadly. Even I flinched. “Or I will make you.”

Jace turned around and spotted him.

They stared at each other for a long moment.

Ash stepped toward him and Jace stepped back. “Remember me?”

Jace said nothing. Then he headed to the stairs.

Ash stayed on his tail, threatening him silently.

When Jace was at the end of the stairs, Ash returned. The anger was gone, and only sympathy remained behind.

Now I was barely holding on by a thread.

“You okay?” he asked.

I shook my head slightly. “No. I’m not okay.” I walked back inside as the tears flooded my eyes. I hid them from Ash, from everyone.

Then I shut the door.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Ash

The pain on my heart was suffocating me. I couldn’t concentrate in school and I couldn’t function. All I was thinking about was Alaska. She’d been cooped up in her apartment for almost a month, hardly leaving. She was suffering because of that dickhead, and it made me suffer too.

Why did he do that to her? Why? If you can’t commit to someone, don’t be in a relationship. It’s that simple. I’d been doing it my whole life. No one got hurt, and there were no strings attached. It was fair to all parties involved.

So why did he do that to her? And she wasn’t just any girl. She was stunning, warm, smart, and lively. Her spirit lit up every room. Her smile made my knees go weak. Her body was smokin’. She was absolutely perfect.

But yet, he preferred that blonde? A girl whose face looked like everyone else’s? Someone who was plain? Someone who didn’t care that the guy she was fucking had a girlfriend? There was no way in hell she didn’t know. Jace didn’t strike me as an intellectual. He wouldn’t be able to juggle two girlfriends and a full-time job.

Alaska was exotic and unique. Just the color of her skin left my mouth dry. It was flawless and tan, glowing by its own radiance. There was a sheen to it when she was under the sun. Her eyes were brown, but they were light and bright. She had a petite frame but had womanly curves in all the right places.

Why the fuck would he cheat on her?

If she were mine, she’d never cry. She’d never know pain.

But she wasn’t.

I watched her apartment and made sure Jace didn’t come back. And I brought her food whenever I thought she might be hungry. She still hadn’t come out, not even to check her mail. I waited for her to leave so I could talk to her, engage her in conversation. I was worried about her. But I was grateful she held her ground when Jace came by. She hid her pain and acted like she was perfectly fine. I was proud of her.

Unable to take her silence any longer, I knocked on her door. There was movement inside then the sound of gentle footsteps. I knew she was looking at me through the peephole, making sure I wasn’t that jackass.

She opened the door. “Hi.” Surprise was on her face.

When I looked at her body, I was disappointed. She lost weight, more than she should. I guess all my food drop-offs didn’t help. “Hi.”

She leaned against the door, balancing on one foot.

“I just wanted to check on you. I haven’t seen you in a while. Actually, no one has seen you in a while…”

She sighed. “I know…I guess I’m not handling this very well. But I do feel better than I did three weeks ago.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“Thanks for checking on me.” She stood up straight and started to close the door.

“Would you like to come over for dinner?” I blurted.

“Umm…” I could tell she wanted to crawl back into her hole.

“Come on. You need to leave that apartment, Alaska. It’s been long enough.”

She debated her options internally before she nodded. “You’re right. I can’t hide forever.”

“Good. I hope you like Italian.”

“I love Italian.”

“Excellent.”

We walked to my apartment then headed inside. I made sure it was spotless before I invited her over. I never cleaned before a girl visited. I didn’t give a damn what they thought. But I cared about Alaska’s opinion.

I pulled out the chair for her at the table. “Have a seat.”

“Thanks.” She slid inside then sat still.

I walked into the kitchen and fetched the food. I made spaghetti and French bread—the limit to my culinary talents.

“It smells good,” she said when I placed the food in front of her.

“I hope it tastes the same.” I sat across from her and put my napkin in my lap.

She rested her elbow on the table while she ate. I could tell she was still off her game. The depression still throbbed in her eyes, and her slow breathing told me how exhausted she was. Every moment she made was tiresome. She was weak and thin. Now I hated the fucker even more.

“It’s good,” she said quietly.

“Thanks.”

I didn’t press her for a conversation. Just getting her out of her apartment was progress.

“Have you tried out you new lens?” I asked.

“No, not yet. But I will. How’s school?”

“Good. Nothing too interesting has happened.”

She chuckled. “Nothing interesting? You’re in medical school. It has to be interesting.”

I shrugged. “There are a lot of politics in medicine. Take the fun out of it sometimes.”

She finished half of her plate before she abandoned it.

“Dessert?” I teased.

“I’m so full.” She waved her hand like she couldn’t eat another bite.

“I can tell.” I cleared the plates and left them in the sink. When I returned, she was sitting on the couch, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She was probably cold. She was used to lying around in her sweats cuddled under a blanket all day. I grabbed a blanket my mom got me then wrapped it around her.