Page 60 of Whatever You Need

I stumbled to a stop and glared at her. “You want me to marry you?”

“No, that’s not what I meant.” She shook her head, looking so damned confused. Join the fucking club, sweetheart. “I mean yes, maybe someday, but right now I need to know if there is a place for me in your life. If you see a future with me at some point. If you say yes, then I will give it all up. I would risk everything just to be with you. If I have a choice, then I choose you, but I can’t throw it all away unless you give me some type of guarantee. That’s all I’m asking.”

“Let me see if I have this straight. If I promise you a future right here on the spot then you will stay with me. And if I don’t agree to your demands than you’re going to turn your back on me. All for some family loyalty.”

“Marco, please…”

“You are un-fucking-believable. This must be some sick joke. I know you’re not a dummy, so you must be pretty damn delirious if you think I will commit to anything with you right now.”

“I’m trying to explain my actions and my decisions.”

My fingers curled into my hair, tugging hard enough for a sharp pain to rip across my skull. Anger seeped through my veins. I was filled with so much uncontrollable rage.

“I don’t want to hear about your reasons. You failed to mention that you were going to be marrying someone else. You’ve had weeks to tell me. Instead, you chose to lie to me. Carrying on a relationship with me under the circumstances was wrong, and you know it. And putting me on the spot and asking me to give you a guarantee is extremely unfair.”

“I never knew how to tell you.” Her voice was scratchy, practically raw from crying. “Marco, please, I love you.”

I was about ready to lose my shit!

“Get out.”

She froze. “Please don’t do this.”

“You know where the door is, use it.”

“This isn’t just about me. There are people counting on me. Things you don’t understand.”

My temper was raging and I needed her to leave. I paced back and forth, bracing my hands behind my neck. There was nothing to understand. No way she could spin it or explain to make this okay.

“Amelia, I have nothing else to say to you.”

“Please listen to me.”

“I don’t trust you. We are done.”

“Did you not hear me when I told you I love you? Does that not mean anything to you? I knew being with you was taking a huge risk, but you are worth it.”

I slammed my fist through the freshly painted drywall. She jumped at the sound.

“Get. The. Fuck. Out.”

She stood and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “I honestly thought waiting was the right thing to do. I thought if we had a little bit more time then things would figure themselves out.” She picked up her purse and looked at the scattered tissue and wrapping paper lying on the floor. She covered her mouth on a sob and swiftly moved toward the door. There was a part of me that wanted to beg her not to leave. To stay so we could work things out, but my stubborn pride won out. “I’m going to give you some time to cool down. I’m walking away because that’s what you need, even if it’s the last thing I want to do. Believe me when I say, my feelings for you are real. I love you more than I thought possible, and will be waiting for you if you change your mind.” Her hand paused on the knob. “I know we have a lot to work through, but what we have is worth fighting for. Please don’t give up on us.”

The second the door shut behind her, I picked up the mug of hot chocolate and threw it across the door she just walked out of. The ceramic mug, just like my life, had just shattered into a thousand pieces. I slumped to the floor and was left wondering how the hell I allowed my heart to get broken again.

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