Unsuitable(87)

“I just…” He softly shakes his head. “I just heard you were out, and I needed to see you. Needed to see that you were okay.”

I slap him. Hard.

The sound rings out in the silence surrounding us. And my hand stings like a bitch.

That is the first time I have ever hit anyone.

I don’t feel better for it.

My adrenaline spiked, my body is shaking, and my chest is heaving with heavy breaths, like I’ve just run a marathon.

I want to cry. And scream.

Seriously, it never rains, but it fucking pours. I fall for Kas, and he lies to me. And, the very next morning, my lying bastard of an ex turns up on my doorstep.

I have the worst luck of anyone ever.

Unfocused eyes come back to mine. “I deserved that.” His words are soft.

“You deserve more,” I grit out.

He gently nods his head, eyes unfocused.

Everything in me starts to hurt from the bad memories of what he put me through, everything I had to endure, and everything I lost because of him.

“Why, Jason?” I don’t even realize I’m crying until a tear drips off my chin. I swipe it away with the back of my hand. “I lost everything. I lost Jesse, the most important thing in my life, and he was put in a group home! A fucking group home!” My voice is rising with each enraging word I speak. “And I can’t even have him back now. I get to see him on weekends while I prove to Social Services that I’m fit to care for him. And that is all because of you!”

I shove my hands into his chest, and he stumbles back a step.

“You set me up! I went to prison because of you! And I know it was you because there was no one else it could’ve been. And seeing you here now just confirms it! And you have the fucking audacity to come here because you need to know that I’m okay? Well, no, I’m not okay!” I scream that last part. And I don’t care if I wake the whole goddamn building up. I’ve earned the right to scream.

His eyes nervously dart around.

It serves to remind me that Cece is only a few floors up, and she might hear. I don’t want to pull her into this. If she finds out Jason is here…God help him. And I don’t want Cece going to prison for murder.

Looking at the pavement, I pull in a few calming breaths, clenching my fists in and out.

I look up and stare at his pitiful face.

I can’t see the Jason I knew.

God, I used to care about this man. I trusted him. And, right now, I can’t see one single reason why that ever was.

“I shouldn’t have come,” he whispers. “It was a mistake.”

“No shit, Sherlock,” I snap.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbles as he starts to back away.

“Yeah, and I’m sorry I ever met you.”

He pauses, lifting guilt-ridden eyes to mine. “I’m sorry you met me, too, Daisy. You were the best thing that ever happened to me—”

“So, why?” I bang my hand to my chest. “You ruined my life, Jason. I went to prison because of you.”

“I’m sorry—”

“You keep saying that, but you’re not sorry. If you were, then you’d tell me the truth. You’d admit that you set me up. You’d tell me who else was involved.”

“I…Jesus…” He drives his hands into his hair, gripping the strands. “I didn’t have a choice, okay? I never wanted to hurt you.”

He didn’t have a choice?

“What do you mean, you didn’t have a choice?”

His eyes dart away from me. “Nothing. Forget I said anything.”

“No.” I step closer to him. “Who?” He says nothing, so I decide to push further. “Was it…Damien?”

I know I’ve hit the nail on the head because haunted, panicked eyes flash to mine.

Anger floods my veins.

I always knew it was the both of them, and seeing the confirmation on Jason’s face…it makes me want to slap him again and again and again. And then haul his drunken, pathetic arse to the police station and force him to tell them the truth.

“I’m right, aren’t I?” I take another step closer, fury urging me on. “It was Damien. He had you take that key from my bag while I was sleeping, and you gave it to him. He robbed the jewelry store, and then he brought the key back to you. You put it back in my bag and planted the jewelry in my apartment, so the cops would find it. God, I’m right, aren’t I? Just admit it, Jason. For once in your miserable little life, tell the truth!”

I know I’ve pushed too far and too hard when I see the fury hit his eyes. A look passes over his face that makes my heart putter to a stop.

Jason’s not built like Kas. He’s actually a lot skinnier than he was when we were together, but he’s still a hell of a lot bigger than me.