“Look at me.” Jason slid his fingers under my jaw and tilted my face. “I need to hear you say the words, Felicity.”
“I know,” I whispered.
“Good.” His lips thinned. “Now can we please go home and salvage what was supposed to be a romantic night?”
“Okay,” I said the words, but I didn’t feel them. I was still stuck on that sidewalk, watching Shelly blatantly lust after my boyfriend as if I was nothing.
Wondering why it mattered so much.
Jason
Felicity was quiet the whole way home. Fucking Griffin and Shelly. It was as if the universe just wanted to fuck with me a little more, planting them right outside the restaurant. One minute we were all standing there, and the next, Felicity was telling me to go with them, as if I’d ever just abandon her like that.
Fuck. It stung.
By the time we made it up to our apartment, the air was thick and suffocating around us. I wanted to apologize, to spend the night showing her how much I loved her. How much I fucking needed her. But now... now I didn’t know what to say, let alone know how we even got to this point.
The second she opened the door, Felicity took off into the apartment.
I snagged her wrist. “Wait, we need to talk.”
“I’m tired, Jason. I think I’m just going to—”
“Fuck. That,” I ground out, feeling the edges of my control fray.
She spun around to face me, her eyes holding so much defeat, I felt sucker punched. “I don’t want to do this right now.”
“Do what? You’re talking like we’re over or something.”
Her eyes flickered to the ground. It was only a split second, but it was enough for my heart to plummet into my fucking toes.
She wanted to end it?
No.
No way.
It was just an argument. A silly argument after a few weeks of strain. It was nothing we couldn’t fix. But then she said seven little words that made me stumble back.
“I’m not sure I can do this anymore.”
“What?” I blinked at her. “What the fuck did you just say?”
We stared at each other for the longest second. Tears glossed Felicity’s eyes, streaking down her cheeks.
“Hold up, this is all because Shelly was there?”
“She acted like I was no one, Jason. Do you have any idea how horrible that makes me feel? Knowing that she thinks she can have you? As if I’m nothing.”
“Babe.” I stepped forward, needing to touch her. Needing to stop any more ridiculous words coming out of her mouth. “You know what she’s like.” A lot of the cheerleaders were the same, all desperate to bag a player. And unfortunately for me, I was at the top of the food chain. But I’d never even looked, let alone touched.
Not when I had all I could want right here.
“I thought I was strong enough...” she murmured, dropping her gaze again. “I thought we would come here, and I’d be at your side...”
“You are at my side.” I grabbed her shoulders. “You’re the only one I need at my side. I know I’ve been prioritizing the team, but it’s just for a few more weeks and then the season is over, and things will calm down.” My eyes bored into hers, pleading with her to believe me. “Shit, babe, where is all this coming from?”
“I’m barely keeping my head above water, Jason. And you... you make it look so easy. You have friends, the team, an endless stream of girls vying for your attention. That guy tonight, at the restaurant, he’s going to be the first of many. And I’m proud of you… God, I’m so proud of you. This is all you’ve ever wanted...”