“Hi, Sutton, long time no see.”
“Jackson, what are you doing here?” She crossed her arms over her chest, and shifted her weight from one leg to other, hiking the book bag she carried back up her shoulder.
“I came to see you.”
“Why?”
His smile faded at the unfriendly tone of her voice.
“I think we should talk in private, don’t you?”
“No, but some place quieter would be ideal.” The last thing she wanted to do was be somewhere alone with him. That was when he went for the jugular.
“Follow me,” she said.
Sutton turned and headed for the cafeteria, slowing as she passed Leigh. “This is my ex,” she mouthed before she continued down the hallway. The blood drained from Leigh’s face, and Sutton nodded her agreement as she continued at a brisk pace. They stepped into the near empty cafeteria, and she took a seat by a set of vending machines in the far corner.
“I have to say you don’t seem very happy to see me,” Jackson said as they were seated.
“That’s because I’m not. Why are you here, and how did you find out where I worked?”
“Your mother mentioned it. Was I misinformed about you not dating since we went our separate ways?”
Did this self-centered son of a bitch really think that highly of himself? The looks and air she once found attractive had lost their charm.
“I don’t understand what any of that has to do with you. I made it clear we had nothing more to say to one another on the phone.”
“Come on, Sutton. It’s obvious there are still lingering feelings. We were good together, so why waste time playing hard to get?”
“No, Jackson, we really weren’t. Good to you was getting to do what you wanted with me at home waiting for you. If you’d truly loved me you never would have done or said half the things you did.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You were a master at manipulation. Every disagreement we ever had you flipped around until I was the one apologizing and feeling guilty. You acted like I was some sort of shrew who was riding you too hard, when all I ever wanted was what I was due. A boyfriend who respected and appreciated me for who I was and the things I did for him. You isolated me from my friends and family. You had me thinking you were the only one who’d ever truly understand me or put up with my shit. What a joke!”#p#分页标题#e#
A scowl lined his lips as his brow furrowed.
“That’s not how I remember it.”
“How was it then, Jackson? Please tell me, because I’m dying to hear this, because just a few weeks ago you were bending over backwards to reassure me the reason we failed rested on your shoulders.” It looked like a leopard didn’t change its spots. All that feel-good bullshit he’d spewed had been an attempt to win her back. The deception fueled her anger. She narrowed her eyes and scowled as he continued.
“Look, I was willing to wait for you to finish out your education and get situated in your career before we got married. I never pressured you to have sex.”
“Because it gave you an excuse to stick your dick in everything on two legs in the hospital!”
“A man has needs.”
“Then he should stay single.”
“You’ve changed.”
“I sure as fuck hope so.”
“You were always such a frigid little bitch. Everything was about school and launching your career. I had to get what I needed somewhere. It wasn’t just about the sex, Sutton. I kept waiting for you to finish one goal and free up time so you could turn to me, but then it was always on to the next one.”
“You knew who I was before you asked me to marry you, Jackson.”
“I knew you were a dedicated student. I didn’t expect you to keep that intensity after you graduated! I’m a doctor. I understand wanting to get good grades and be top in your class. But at some point you have to make time for others.”
“I did!”
“Not enough.”
“Then you should have said something.”
“When, Sutton? I mean were you ever planning on slowing down enough to actually plan a wedding and make it down the aisle?”
“Yes! Unlike you, I don’t lie to the people I love.”
He shook his head. His full pink cupids-bow lips curled up into a sneer.
“Listen, Jackson, I’m sorry you came all this way for nothing. I would never enter into a relationship with you again. You’ve said your piece, and now this conversation is over.”
She stood from the table, and turned to leave when his hands clamped down around her wrist like a vise.
“Do you really think you can just dismiss me like some errand boy?”