Page 92 of Ruin

His expression is incredulous. “Do you hear yourself right now?”

“Loud and clear.” I frown.

“Then, you know that you’re talking complete horseshit.”

“Fuck you!” I bite.

“Already have, and I intend on doing it again and again and again—”

“God!” I yell. “I hate you so much!”

“We’ve already established that as well. Right before you told me to put my cock inside you. See where I’m going with this, Dove?”

“Argh!” I scream.

Years and years’ worth of pent-up rage floods my veins, making me see red. I shove both my hands hard against his chest, but the bastard doesn’t move an inch.

“I don’t want you!”

“Stop lying,” he fires back.

“Stop telling me what I think and feel!” I scream at him.

“I’ll stop when you stop fucking lying to yourself!” he roars.

Then, it’s silent. Only the fading sounds of our fury-filled words are left.

Both of our chests are heaving from the physical and emotional exertion of the ire we feel toward each other.

Then, he whispers my name, and it awakens me to the gravity of our situation.

“I have to go.” I turn away from him and press down on the handle.

He stops me with his hand on the door. “Don’t go.” His voice is soft, filled with the sweetest agony.

I feel his firm chest pressing gently against my back. His racing heart is pounding through his chest, trying to reach me. His warm breath is blowing through my hair.

“Stay. Please,” he whispers.

I want to.

It would be so easy to fall into him again.

But I can’t.

So, I close my eyes and let myself feel the pain I endured when he left me. How broken I was. How he broke me.

And then I think about how much I love my daughter.

And that’s enough to help me steel myself against him.

I seal my heart off, open my eyes, and look back to him. “I have to go. Gigi is waiting for me.”

His throat moves on a swallow. Indecision fills his eyes.

Then, he moves his hand away from the door and steps back, giving me the space to leave.

I exhale, pull open the door, and step outside.