Page 150 of Home Game

“Also not true.”

“Please tell me what I did wrong, Ryan. I can fix it. I promise,” I couldn’t keep the beg out of my voice.

He winced.

I tried again. “What did I do wrong?”

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“I’m doing this for you.”

“I don’t want this.”

“Zoey. You have so much living to do.”

“We can do it together.”

“We’re not even.”

I reared back as if he slapped me. “What does that mean?”

He swallowed hard. “It means, it’s not fair to hold you back.”

“From what?”

“From becoming who you need to become.”

“I’m me. This is me. I don’t understand this.” I stood up.

He grabbed my hand and stared up at me. “Trust me on this, okay?”

I felt so hurt, I almost couldn’t breathe. “I need to be alone.”

I whimpered when he dropped my hand. I staggered into my room and lay in a daze on my bed. None of this made sense. I rolled into a ball and then sobs, big horrible sobs, took over my body.

Ryandidn’twant me.

Ryan wanted me toleave.

I was alone.

Rejection tore through me, leaving a hole so big, I thought I might die from the pain.

I didn’t.

But I felt so bad I wasn’t sure I’d survive.

“So, what do you think?”Krista asked me. I looked around the apartment. It was sweet. There was a cute little kitchen that opened to a dining area and a spacious living room. All the windows made the place seem bright and cheery. Wide slatted hardwood floors felt smooth beneath my feet. There was a small bedroom with a spacious closet. But the best part was the claw tub.

What was Ryan doing?

When I was on the street, I would have killed to live in this apartment. Now I didn’t care. Nothing seemed to matter.

The morning after Ryan had dropped his bombshell, Krista picked me up.

One sympathetic look from her and I burst into tears.

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