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Heather turns on me, her eyes blazing. “Why, so your family doesn’t figure out you’re not really engaged?”
“No, please, it’s not that. I beg you. Stay, please.”
She shakes her head and turns to go.
“I-I can’t lose you.”
“I’m not yours to lose.” She lifts her hand and shakes her head. “I won’t tell your family you lied, just let me go.”
The crushing weight of her leaving is enough to pull me out of my stupidity. I don’t care if my family knows I lied. I don’t care if my dad thinks I’m an untrustworthy idiot. All that matters is Heather.
“Wait,” I shout, stopping her in her tracks.
Heather spins around and throws up her hands. “What? What could you possibly want?”
“You.”
She shakes her head violently. “You don’t even know me.”
I hold out one dirty hand as I approach her. “No, I don’t.”
Her eyes are narrowed and her face looks pained. “I can’t stay. Not after what you said.”
“Fine. I’ll drive you home. I’m sorry.”
She sighs and her shoulders drop. “I don’t want your sorries.”
I’d gone too far and I had no defense. “Let’s eat brunch then I’ll drive you home.”
“I can find another way.”
Self-hate fills me. I'm such a jerk, and I may have ruined the best thing I've ever had. "Alisha will be disappointed if you leave."
Heather stills. I can tell that manipulating her may have worked for now, but she’s not the type of woman to bow to pressure.
“Fine, but that’s it.” Her words are crisp and unforgiving.
I follow her through the woods, wishing I hadn’t let my anger loose. We slip inside and make it to our room without being seen. Shower time is much less exciting. Heather washes first. When she finishes, she barely even gives me a second glance. I wash quickly and come out to find her packed and ready to go.
“I didn’t mean what I said.” I kneel in front of her but she won’t look at me. “I hate how I feel.”
After a long moment, her gaze connects with mine. “I’m having a hard time believing you’re sincere.”
“I’m an idiot. I’ll admit that.”
Heather scoffs and rolls her eyes. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
“I made a huge mistake. I see you being happy, loving life, and for a moment I thought I could have that. I’ve never felt so good with anyone. Back in school, you made my life good.”
She frowns. “Why didn’t you ever kiss me then?”
I swallow, stalling as I think about that time. “When I met you, I was depressed. I didn’t even know how depressed I was until you took my hand that night and held it while I cried. You saw a part of me that I’ve never allowed anyone else to see. You didn’t hold my weakness against me. The next day, you were nice. I didn’t want to ruin it. You’ve seen how my parents act. I thought that’s what being in a relationship was. I didn’t want that with you. I wanted something special, and I knew that if I kissed you, if I touched you, I would end our relationship because I’m an asshole.”
Her brows pinch tight and she shakes her head. “You don’t have to be that way.”
“No, I guess I don’t. I’ve never been in a relationship with anyone.”
“You were engaged, right?”
