“I don’t want to hear any more lies from you.” I pull my arm out of his grip. “Itrustedyou,” I hiss.
“You’re going to believe Mia over me?”
“So are you saying you two didn’t kiss?” I challenge.
He brushes a hand through his hair as his jaw clenches.
“That’s what I thought.” I turn and reach for the door handle, but he stops me once again.
“That’s not how it happened, Viola.”
I roll my eyes and let out an amused chuckle. “Classic, Travis. Seriously.”
“Stop being so damn stubborn for once,” he growls. “She kissed me, Viola. Not the other way around. I have zero interest in her.”
I shake my head and narrow my eyes at him. “That doesn’t even make sense. Either you kissed, or you didn’t.”
“Okay, yes, but I didn’t kiss her back. She threw up on her dress and ripped it off, so I had her lay in the back seat. That’s all that happened. I swear, Viola.”
“So you’re telling me you two didn’t make out in your car? The same car we’ve been together in?”
His head falls back, and he groans out in frustration. “It wasn’t like that.”
“How could you not tell me? I said I didn’t need to hear the whole story because I trusted you, but I asked if anything had happened between you two and you said no. Now it looks like you had something to hide after all.”
“Because it was nothing! She gave me a kiss I didn’t want, and now she’s all pissy because I rejected her. That’s the only reason she’s saying those things now.”
“Even if she’s the one who kissed you and you pushed her away, that’s more than justnothing. Especially considering she’s your best friend’s girlfriend. That should’ve been something you told me. Now I stand here like an idiot, thinking you were being one hundred percent honest with me.”
“Because it meant absolutely nothing to me! I didn’t want you to worry for no reason because I don’t want anything to do with her. I never have. I don’t care about her. You’re all I want, Viola.”
“Well, then it’s a shame you gambled away my trust on someone who meant nothing to you.”
“Don’t say that, Viola. Please. I would never hurt you.” He grabs my hand and secures it between both of his over his chest.
“You already have, Travis.”
“Viola,please.”
Tears fall down my cheeks, and I don’t even have enough strength to wipe them away. “How can a relationship work if there’s no trust?” I ask, and he doesn’t answer. “It can’t.” I pull my hand back, and he reluctantly releases it.
“I will do whatever it takes to gain your trust back, but I promise, you have nothing to worry about. The one-night stands, the girls, and guys’ nights out—I’m done with all that.”
I shake my head and close my eyes. “It’s too late, Travis. I can’t do this again. I’ve given you my heart and have been in love with you for so long that I just can’t let you throw me away again.”
“That’s the first time you’ve ever said that.” His voice is low, and when I look back up at him, I can see he’s crying, too.
“And it’ll be the last.”
“Viola…”
I reach for the door and slide inside, shutting it behind me. He’s looking at me with his hands behind his head—his eyes red and swollen—and I can’t fight back the tears. I shift the car into reverse, and once I’m able, I shift again and watch him in my rearview mirror. He’s bent over, his knees supporting the weight of his hands as he shakes his head.
My heart is lying in that driveway, shattered into a million pieces, and I’m not sure it’ll ever beat right again.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FIVE
TRAVIS