Page 54 of Paper Horses

“It’s your graduation. I’m going. I don’t care if you don’t have enough tickets. I’ll stand outside the field house and bellow my cheers for you when I hear your name called.” I pulled her to me, but she fought me and tumbled from my arms. “Olivia, what is this really about?”

“You can’t be there, and no, they won’t let you do that. Don’t be ridiculous.” Her lips thinned, a flash of agony streaking through her eyes. “It’s a stupid idea. Just like everything you do.”

I reeled back. Her words were making no sense, and the anger in them was unwarranted. All I wanted to do was be at her graduation the following week. To celebrate her achievement. I pinched my brow, thinking of the ring in my pocket, the plans I had for today that she was ruining by getting so upset about such a small thing.

“Fine, we’ll celebrate after.”

“No.” She crossed her arms, a look of determination coming over her features. “We won’t. I have dinner with my father and brother.”

“Good, then I can finally see your family again.”

A look of sheer horror morphed her expression. “No,” she barked. “You won’t. God, you’re so demanding.”

“Demanding?” I stepped back, her tone so vicious I almost didn’t recognize her. “I’m not demanding. I’m simply asking to be there for an event that I want to celebrate with you.”

“It’s demanding. I don’t need you telling me what to do⁠—”

“I’m not telling you what to do.”

“You always are. Barking orders, giving out commands you expect me to answer to. Like this.”

I stared at her, thinking of how her body shuddered every time she thought I turned demanding.

“What the hell is wrong with you today?”

She pushed her hair behind her ear. “I’m sick of it.” Her voice cracked, and a sudden sense of foreboding overtook me. A prickling that reminded me of an out-of-control car barreling toward a brick wall. “I’m sick of you.”

Gutted. Those words had left me gutted, and I took a step away from her, the ring in my pocket suddenly as heavy as bricks that were crumbling to bits.

“Me? Do you hear yourself, Olivia?”

“Don’t call me that,” she hissed.

I bristled, my defenses going up. “What is it you want?”

“To be away from you and your demands. I can’t take this anymore.”

“You’re breaking up with me?” My world was spinning. She’d been slowly pulling away from me, but I’d chalked it up to nerves about graduation. Sleeping in her dorm more, giving me excuses about having too much studying to see me. But never had I imagined this would happen. My mood shifted, and I narrowed my gaze at her. “Are you seeing someone else?”

Her pure look of shock should have been a relief, but the situation was too tenuous.

“No, I’m not seeing someone else.”

“And my other question?” I folded my arms, bracing myself as the slivers of my future sank like piercing daggers gouging into my skin.

“Yes.” The word hung in the space between us. Pain lanced my chest, my insides curdling, my lungs refusing to work.

“I don’t want you at my graduation.” Another crack in her voice, her eyes shimmering with tears that wouldn’t fall. “And I don’t want you in my life anymore.”

She walked past me, but I didn’t move, too stunned to. Too hobbled by her words. I could have chased after her, but as the door slammed behind her, I couldn’t bring myself to. Instead, I found my way to my couch, where I fell apart.

“Why did you leave me?” I asked Olivia, recoiling from the memory. The sting of pain still fresh.

She whirled around, shock turning to iciness, the mask sliding into place.

“It doesn’t matter anymore.”

“Tell me the truth because it was a stupid argument about your graduation that suddenly blew up to you leaving. With no explanation, no warning.”