Page 38 of The Last Special Thing

“Just let me stay with you,” Weston said with desperation.

His fingers reached out and touched her knuckles on the steering wheel. The feeling sent her hands recoiling. Despite what he proclaimed about always knowing her best, he didn’t. He couldn’t read her at all.

“No.”

“I promise nothing will happen.” His eyes fell to the floor. “Let me stay with you one last night.”

“You broke up with me.” She pushed her door open, exited, then slammed it shut. Not caring if she woke up the whole damn neighborhood.

Weston flinched at the sound. When he got out of the car, he dragged himself over to her. He wrapped his arms around her, her body stiffening under his touch.

If he noticed her tense, he didn’t let it deter him. He pressed his forehead against her hair and inhaled.

“Amelia.” His voice cracked at her name.

Anger bubbled up in her. She still couldn’t shake off her thoughts from earlier - why now? His emotions were not about her; they were about him. He was losing something. He wasn’t getting what he wanted. The situation broke him. It wasn’t about her.

She shook her head and shrugged him off.

He looked at her, as if finally experiencing the heartbreak he had inflicted upon her months ago. He didn’t know back then what this pain was. But the hurt was etched on his face now, and she wanted nothing more than for him to choke on the love he supposedly felt. She stomped toward her house and didn’t turn around.

She navigated through the ivy gate, past the S-shaped pool shimmering in the moonlight, and to her flat. She stepped inside, greeted by a message from Netflix: Are you still watching?

The message was haunting. How had she, Weston, and Madisson been watching a show together that same day? It felt like an eternity ago.

Amelia clicked it off and sat on her bed. She had had one of the happiest days when Art made her his official girlfriend. Now, she wanted to bury herself under her comforter until the fall. She stood up and paced, trying to make sense of the unruly feelings.

Her eyes landed on the line of photos on her dresser. Family photos from tropical vacations, the opening night of her performance as the lead in Legally Blonde, and a collage of her and Madisson that Madisson had gifted her for her birthday.

Then there was the photo of her and Weston at Spring Fling, a month before the breakup. She looked great. Admittedly, they both did. His hair was freshly cut, and he wore a cream suit and a forest green bow tie that matched her backless dress.

They had slow danced to Taylor Swift’s “Lover” as she mouthed the words to him. He gave her a dopey smile and held her close. She hadn’t interpreted his lack of reciprocation in the words as a warning sign at that point. He merely needed more time. She’d been told growing up that she was a handful. She was sure that Weston would get there.

Amelia walked over to the silver frame and picked it up gingerly. Running her thumb along their foolishly happy faces, her resentment about his declaration of love intensified. Amelia hurled the frame against the wall. The glass shattered on impact.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“We need booze,” Max said to Art and Amelia, who were cozied up on the couch. She was partially on his lap, a finger twirling his moose brown hair.

It had been a few days since she had talked to Weston, although he had reached out. She left his messages on read, wanting him to know that, yes, she had received his messages, but no, she didn’t care.

“We’ll go.” Amelia decided for them, letting her hand fall. They’d been rotting on the couch for too long anyway.

“If you insist.” He smiled. Was there anything he wouldn’t agree to?

“Do you want me to join?” Madisson called from the kitchen.

Amelia peered over her shoulder as Madisson snapped a fistful of noodles in half and dropped them into the pot of boiling water.

A few sprays of water jumped, and Madisson shot back. “Fuck!”

“Nah, I appreciate you making food.” Amelia had never learned to cook, not even noodles. She’d much rather get out of the house and enjoy the sunlight.

Amelia and Art untangled and waved a quick goodbye.

When they were situated in the car, she reached into the backseat and pulled out a navy blue gift bag, handing it to him while trying to suppress her smile.

“You got me something?” His chin tilted to her.