A Broken Forever(41)

"What are you talking about?" I snapped back. Of course I had a pretty good idea of what he was referring to, but I wasn't about to open the floodgates of confessions just yet.

"Where were you today?"

"Getting my car fixed."

Jayden nodded as he leaned his body against my car. "So, why didn't you let Richard pick you up? He's always working, so on his day off why wouldn't you want to be with him?"

My mouth gaped open at his accusation. "Of course I wanted to be with him! I just had errands to run."

"But why wouldn't you invite him along? I'm not understanding your thought process here, Greyson. Cara and I are both busy, and if I don't get to spend time with her for a while I miss her so fucking much. I want to be with her every minute of the day. If we have a day off together I drag her everywhere I go, just to have her with me."

I crossed my arms over my chest, suddenly not liking the way my heart twisted at his words. Was it wrong that I didn't even think to do things like that with Richard? Even before Stefan came around I did little things like errands by myself.

"Okay fine, what's the point, Jay? Do you want me to go apologize to Richard? Do you want me to admit that you're the better person in a relationship? I'm not sure what you want from me."

Instantly he pushed himself off my car and got right in my face. "I want you to be fucking honest with me. Something isn't right here, Greyson."

I opened my mouth to talk, but Jayden didn't miss a beat. "You called me, distressed as hell, and when I got here I expected to find you broken down or something. Instead, you walk in with a huge fucking smile and a fiancé that knew nothing about your unhappiness. Don't play around with me, Grey. Who were you with?"

Blood rushed to my cheeks and the back of my neck. How did Jayden know??

"What are you … talking about?" I asked again, with not as much conviction.

"Don't pussyfoot around, Greyson. You tell me everything! I know you better than almost everyone knows you. Everyone but one. If you are keeping something from me, there can only be one reason why."

"That isn't true, Jay."

"Don't fucking lie to me, Grey. I know right now that you are being dishonest and you're trying to get away with something. Well, I'm telling you right now that it isn't working."



       
         
       
        

"Are you high, Jay? You have lost your mind! I have no idea what you're talking about!"

With frustration he rubbed his hand on top of his short dark hair. "You know exactly what I'm talking about, Grey. There is only one person that would make you act this way; it is also the same person that left you when you needed him the most."

"Stop it," I warned. This was not his business.

"You stop it! You have the best guy upstairs. Richard would never abandon you, and you would never have to wonder where he might be. Stefan was a fool, Grey. Yes, I liked him back in the day, but that time passed. He was a child when you married him, and as soon as a real life situation arose he fucking ran. So whatever is going on in your head right now, just remember that little bit."

How Jayden knew everything was something I would never understand, but it was frightening. He always knew what was going on and I hated it. I had been silently basking in the memories of today and the good from the past. Part of me hated Jayden for splashing water over my bubble of serenity and washing away the good feelings that were filling me. The other part wanted to sink into my shell of self-pity and hide from all of this.

"You don't know what you're talking about," I finally said.

"Yeah, whatever, Grey. By the way, looks like you forgot your leftovers in the backseat." Jayden pointed into my car. As my neck craned to see what he was pointing at I immediately realized my mistake. The second half of my burger from the Boston Burger Company was in a bag with their logo in plain view. This wouldn't have been such a big deal if Jayden didn't know that I hadn't been to that restaurant since Stefan and I split up. My cheeks flushed while my eyes averted to the sidewalk. I knew I couldn't simply play dumb anymore. My tongue was tied and none of my excuses would work in this instant.

"Who'd you go get lunch with, huh? I'm sure you didn't go alone, and the last time I checked you absolutely refused to go there. So, what changed, Grey?"

I said nothing.

"Tell me, Grey-tell me who you went with."

"Why does it matter??" I threw my hands up in frustration.

"Because I want to hear you say it. You need to hear it too, Grey. I want you to tell me that you spent the day away from your fiancé to hang out with a man who doesn't even deserve your passing glance."