He glances around, his teeth chattering slightly. How long has he been out here? “Can we go into your apartment?”
“No. If you have something to say, say it. Right here. Right now.” I cross my arms, feeling defensive.
I can’t believe we’ve come to this.
“I miss you,” he admits, his voice low. “I miss you and I’m an idiot for breaking up with you. I regret everything and I know you’ll probably say no, but please hear me out and give me another chance.”
I stare him dead in the face and murmur, “No.”
Then I start walking.
Natalie keeps pace with me, eventually jogging ahead, so she can unlock our door, with Bryan right on my heels.
“Come on, Jo. Like I said, hear me out. I can explain everything.”
“I don’t want to hear it. I don’t care about your explanations, or what you have to say. I’m over you. I have another man’s number painted on my cheek and I freaking hate football. But I love it for him because I’m in love withhim, okay? Now leave me alone.” I shake off his hold when he grabs at the hem of my coat sleeve, marching toward the door, but damn it, he’s persistent.
“You’re already in love with someone else? Come on, Jo! You barely know the guy! We haven’t been apart for that long.” Bryan is yelling, and I whirl around, trying to shush him.
“Lower your voice!” My whisper is harsh and I look around the complex, hoping we don’t disturb the neighbors.
“No.” He shakes his head. “I need to tell you how I feel, and how badly I ruined everything between us. I was stupid. I only got with Clara because she was someone new and I was bored. Lonely. You were never around and she was always there. She was exciting—”
I interrupt him.
“Spare me the details. I don’t want to hear this.”
I draw closer to our front door, Natalie standing in the open doorway, her foot propped against the door, her gaze beckoning.
“But you have to, do you hear me? I’ve been waiting for you for fucking hours out here, going over it in my mind again and again, what I planned on saying to you, and I’m not going to let you just walk away from me now.”
I go cold. Colder than the air outside. Colder than the darkest part of my heart that’s still angry at Bryan. Taking a deep breath, I slowly let it out and count to five before I turn to face him.
“You don’t have control over me, Bryan. It’s on me that I allowed you to say and do those sorts of things to me like you have for so long, but never again.”
Bryan’s frowning like an idiot. “Huh?”
“I’m saying that you can’t boss me around anymore or make your petty demands of me. I’m my own person, and I’m not your girlfriend any longer.” I lift my chin, proud of myself for finally speaking my truth, yet trying to ignore the trembling that’s trying to take over my body. “You need to leave.”
“Come on—” Bryan starts, but he’s cut off by someone else.
“You heard her.” Knox’s voice sounds behind me, dark and dead serious. “Get the fuck out of here.”
Slowly, I turn to face my boyfriend, my mouth hanging open. The relief that floods my body makes my knees weak. “Where did you come from?”
“I just left my parents’ hotel. I missed you.” One of my favorite Knox traits is how honest he always is with me. “Tried to call but you didn’t answer.”
His words rock me, warming my cold heart. He looks so good—so warm and handsome, standing there in his thick winter coat and a beanie on his head. Big and tall and strong and the absolute love of my life. Does he see it?
Has he figured it out yet?
“Joanna, are you really going to let this happen? You’re just going to let me walk?” Bryan sounds incredulous. And annoying. Like a fly you keep swatting at but won’t go away. “After three years together, this is how you treat me?”
I glance at him from over my shoulder, disgusted by the pleading look on his face, and the fake sincerity in his eyes. How I’m treatinghim?
He treated me like a doll he could throw away at any moment for almost the entirety of our relationship. I was the little girlfriend he could forget about while he was away at college, unless it was convenient for him. I’d beg him not to go to parties but he still would, while I was always on my best behavior. And for what?
“It seems only fair, considering you did the same thing to me,” I retort.