Page 22 of Rejected Broken Mate

She looked at me, and I could see she remembered. I wondered what went through her mind. What version of me did she remember?

"Different," she said.

"I think the word is normal," Lucas added as he moved the pan off the stove towards the island.

"I wouldn't go that far," she said with a chuckle.

"How long were you guys together?" Wesley asked, grabbing a taco.

"Uhmmm." She looked at me.

I tried to remember our timeline for how everything played out: "We were friends for a year before we started dating. We officially have been dating for two years."

"Why did you guys break up?"

We both fell quiet. I remembered our breakup and the yelling. I was sure the entire dorm could hear us. Finals were done, and I decided to move home.

I had a fight with my folks about her. I wanted to ask her to come back, and my father said if I did, if I continued to have a relationship with her, they would cut ties with me.

I remembered feeling the need to puke as I looked at her that night. I was ready to tell her everything and ask her to stay with me, but I couldn't. So, instead of trying to move our relationship to the next level, I brutally ripped it apart.

After a moment, she shrugged. "Because. School was ending, and he was moving back home. It wasn't anything serious."

I looked at her, trying to keep a neutral face, but I was shocked. Why wasn't she telling them the truth? I broke things off.

"I'm going to check my email and water the flowers. You guys enjoy your food."

As she walked towards her office, I sat frozen. My mind was flooded with questions.

After eating, I headed outside. I found her in the back, watering the flowers. She was bending over, her top gaping open. She looked at me as I walked over.

"You look angry," she said, pulling herself back up.

I reached out, gently grabbing her top and pulling it together to cover her better. She blushed, embarrassed.

I focused on her top, trying to find the words. I should have thanked her because if the guys knew the truth, they might have thought differently about me.

"Why didn't you tell them the truth?" I asked, taking a step back.

She shrugged. "Because it's in the past, and we can't change anything about it."

He frowned. "But I hurt you. And you…" I stopped, not sure what I wanted to say. I rubbed my hand over my face. "I hurt you, Laura. And I hate how I ended things. I was an ass."

Her eyes softened. "It's in the past, Miles. But thank you."

Staring at her reminded me why I loved her so much. Laura was soft and forgiving even when you didn't deserve it. I remembered the stress of trying to be perfect, and with her, I felt that I was. I wanted that again.

Laura had always made me feel good enough. Whenever I fought with my family, she held me together. Laura had been on my side even when I probably didn't deserve it.

"Will you go to dinner with me tonight?"

Her eyes widened in surprise. "What?"

"Dinner tonight?"

She stuttered. "I don't have anyone to watch Michael."

"I can find someone to watch him. I'm sure one of the guys wouldn't mind."

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