I got drunk on Wynter. On the way she made me feel, how she made me fall for her. Then she took my heart and ripped it out, leaving me with the worst hangover and a lack of emotional support.
“Are you ready to talk about it yet?” His voice sounds pained.
“No.”
“Okay then…” he mutters. “I’m grabbing some beer, maybe ordering a pizza. Do you want anything?”
“Both. I’ll split the bill.”
Reece wanders off into the kitchen and I hear him talking to someone, probably from the pizza shop.
He hands me a beer before walking back into the room. “Ordered the usual.” Taking a long pull of my beer, I lay my head back against the couch, closing my eyes.
Every memory of my mother leaving dad when I was young plagues my mind.
Tears slipped downher cheeks as she looked over at him. One hand on the door, a suitcase in the other. “I can’t do this anymore, Charles. I thought I could, but I’m drowning. I can’t love you the way you need me to. I’m sorry, but I can’t…”
He shook his head. “What about Weston? How is your son supposed to feel about this? About you leaving him behind?”
“He’ll be fine.” I watched as she lifted her hand to his cheek. “He has you. You’re better for him than I could ever be.” My father's face was filled with anger and hurt.
I wasnine years old when she left us. A few years later, she passed away from cancer. She’d known she had cancer and didn’t want us to struggle watching as she slowly faded away from this life.
It’s been years since I’ve thought about her, but the ache is still the same. I’m not sure if it's because I miss her, or maybe because I miss the thought of something I never really had. It’s where I got my obsession with childhood fairytales. My mother and I would sit and watch Disney movies over and over when I was little, and she’s the reason I believed in true love like the stories we watched. When I found out she passed, I clung to the memories.
Wynter pushing me away brings back all the pain. The person I’ve fallen in love with is pushing me away. Losing out on the potential for love, because that’s what this is for me.
Opening my eyes, I push everything to the back corner of my mind, replacing the lock and key, keeping it there permanently. I take another large gulp of my beer.
I nod my head at the tv. “How about another movie?” Anything to take away the crushing failure of my brief attraction to the wrong woman.
I berate myself. I shouldn’t have an ache in my chest over her. We weren’t even together.
Looking over, he scrutinizes me, an unhappy frown marring his face. “How aboutFrozen?”
“No.” My tone comes out harsh, but that movie reminds me of her. He shakes his head, pickingThe Little Mermaidinstead.
He won’t make me talk, but eventually, I won’t be able to hold it in any longer. Although, he probably knows more than I do. He’s been sneaking texts all day. He thinks I don’t see it, but I know exactly what he’s doing.
Consorting with the enemy. I’m sure Addison’s told him everything, or at least the Wynter version of what happened.
The pizza shows up half an hour later. We eat in silence, but eventually my mouth opens and words spew out.
“She broke things off with me before they could even begin.”
“What?” He pretends to act shocked, but I know better.
“Don’t sit there and tell me you didn’t already know.” I give him a droll look.
“Okay… so Addy may have already told me, but why? What happened?”
I sigh. “Too many reasons - we’re moving too fast, I’m asking too much from her. Our families don’t do relationships or marriage for love, she’s not capable of love. She’s afraid to try, and she’s spilling all these bullshit reasons.”
The shocked exclamation reads loud and clear across his face. Guess he hadn’t heard that part. “She wanted to end it before things went too far before I fell in love with her. Funny shit is, I’m already head over heels.”
I shake my head. Taking another chug of beer before shoving more pizza into my mouth. He slumps back on the couch, shaking his head along with me. “Shit man, so I guess you could say she’s a fixer-upper?”
“Do not even let me hearFrozenspill from your lips.” I try to read his expression for any sign that he’d pity me and spill his guts -no such luck.