Page 40 of Love Me

“I will be there.”

When I hang up, Blake pokes his head into the room.

He’s my best friend for a reason. He knows my heart.

“She’s not her anymore,” I say, every word carrying dejection.

“I’m sorry, man.”

I had to decide. And I chose to protect Celine while letting her believe I betrayed her. And still, if she stayed, I would have found a way. Somehow. But I did what I believed to be best: protect my wife.

There’s a difference between thinking someone is a monster and knowing it. I found out on the night of my initiation that I was among the monsters. I must become a cold, unfeeling bastard to beat them at their own game.

Blake comes inside. “So while I work on Mia, you will do what, exactly? Hoping the girl you love hasn’t come back to betray us all and take us down?”

Accurately said.

“Track Mia’s every step. I’ll do the same with Celine.”

***

The next day, I see Celine laughing with Mia in the college’s halls. The moment she senses me, she narrows her eyes. A girl stops in front of me, smiling at me, all flustered, asking me for directions and looking at her watch. I explain to her where the math classroom is, and she thanks me.

I catch Celine fuming from the corner of my eye.

The girl slips a note with most surely her phone number in my jacket and waves at me with a hopeful expression. It will end up like all the others, in the damn garbage.

I walk past Celine and Mia, greeting them. If it’s any sign, Celine glares at me so hard I almost feel the dagger in my back.

When my class ends, I step out of the building. Celine is perched on the hood of my car, legs spread.

“Another dent?”

What are you doing taunting me? Always taunting and tantalizing me. I breathe through everything I would like to do to her if I could. Kiss her. Taste her. Hold her.

“Oh, that was totally an accident, but I see you got that fixed.”

Some things are easier to repair than others.

“What do you want?”

“I’m waiting for Hunter.” She glides her nails down the hood. “Love this car.”

“You know what? Here, enjoy.”

I throw the keys at her, and she catches them in midair.

Walking away, my insides break.

“You gave her your car?” Blake asks the moment I enter our house. “They will totally fuck in it to mess with your head.”

If that makes her happy.

But with every minute, I hyperventilate. That was a mistake. I doubt I can ever get in my car again. Luckily, I still have a bike and an obnoxious amount of money in my accounts.

Deciding to do something productive, I retreat to the living room. Abigail is there, pens and notes scattered everywhere on the table. I take out my notes to go through today’s lecture, but my attention is shit. Abigail pokes her fingers at my notes, but I throw them to the side, done with pretending I can focus.

When I hear my engine, I shoot upright, rushing to the window. Celine parks the car. She’s alone.

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