Torrid Affair(52)

I watched as her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I didn't break your heart. You broke mine. I was the stupid one who trusted you to begin with.”

“No, Brie. You were the one who chose to believe your roommate instead of coming to me. You were the one who sat on top of Julian and, once Edwin opened the door, you didn't even budge. You were the one who ruined this.”

She slammed her laptop shut. “Really?” A tear dripped down her cheek and instantly my anger faded away. “A kiss is forgivable. I kissed your brother because I was hurt. And since I hurt you, did you only kiss Delaney?” Her voice broke and she shook her head. “No, you fucked her.”

It was my turn to remain quiet. She wiped away the tears that slid down her cheeks. “You know, the funny thing is I never had sex with your brother, even when I was his girlfriend. I couldn't have sex with him because all I wanted was you. But even when you were with Delaney, you fucked her, so I guess fucking her now was like riding a bike.” I wanted to reach out and hug her, but she was too upset. “Don't sit here and tell me I ruined us. Because we were ruined the second you started dating her.” She shoved her things into her bag and stood to leave, but I grasped her arm.

“Wait.” I tried to stop her. “Wait! Wait! I fucked up. We can fix this. It didn’t mean anything.”

“Is this where you tell me you thought of me the whole time?”

“Fuck, Brie.” My hand ran through my hair nervously. “I was hurt, pissed off, and drunk out of my face. You have to forgive me, you gotta understand. I thought—”

“Don't touch me,” she sobbed. “You didn't come here to apologize. You came here for revenge. You came here to tell me that you slept with her. You wanted to even the score. You see, Nate, you and I are very much alike in some ways because that's what I wanted to do last night with Julian. I wanted to sleep with him so you’d know how much you hurt me. But I couldn't go through with it because I'm a fool who thought we were in love.”

“Brie, I was drunk.”

“So was I, but I still didn't fuck him.” She tugged on her arm, but I couldn't let her go. It felt as if she was slipping from my grasp and I would lose her completely.

“Don't leave.”

“Let go of my arm or I'll scream.” Her gaze was locked on mine, and I could see the hatred in her eyes.

I gradually released my grip and watched as she slipped away. I did the only thing I could not to lose her.

I followed her.





Chapter 18





Brielle


I wandered aimlessly for what seemed like hours. I didn't know where to go or what to think, but as long as one foot was in front of the other, everything else was a complete blur. My heart ached and the tears wouldn’t stop streaming down my face. How had I been so stupid? My own insecurities had me acting like a child, and it was my own doing that led him straight back to her arms.

That realization only made me sob harder.

His words ran over and over in my head. I didn't know what to feel. Could I be mad at him for being with Delaney?

Yes.

No.

Who the fuck knew?

I had given him the knife to stab my own heart. That I knew.

My feet throbbed as I lapped the campus for the fourth time. Needing to escape the hell I was in, I got in the car and slammed my hands on the steering wheel.

“Damn you!”

I hated that I had fallen so deeply for him. Never had I loved so deeply. So profoundly. And the more I thought about it, the angrier I grew.

Thirty minutes later, I pulled into Lake Norman. This time, the sky was crystal blue and the trees were blooming as spring was upon us, but I felt cold, dark and hurt. Parking near the water, I got out of the car and sat at the edge of the lake. The water was cool and calm as I reflected on my life. I had been steady and serene most of life, just like this lake. My father, my mother, and my entire childhood had all been boulders that made a tremendous splash, but with time, the ripples all evened out. Now, I felt like the ocean in the middle of typhoon with wild and disastrous winds destroying everything in its path.

My hands brushed the soft grass until I found a small stone. I held it firmly between my fingers the way Nate taught me and threw it in the lake. It only bounced once before it sank to the bottom. My eyes filled with tears. Could I do anything right?

“You're doing it wrong.” I heard Nate's voice behind me.

My vision blurred with tears as I sat motionless and hoped it was all in my head; that he wasn't really here. But when he lowered himself beside me, there was no denying that the man who held the key to my heart was right where I needed him.

Neither of us said a word for long moments as we quietly watched the calm body of water. I hugged my legs and rested my chin on my knees. I prayed for the tears to stay in, but the traitorous fucks decided to pour out anyway.