Page 81 of Some Saviors Can Break You

She winced at the words even though she knew he didn't mean them the way they sounded. Just because she’d never had anyone in her life to love besides her brother, didn't mean she was incapable of loving or understanding what it would be like to lose someone you loved.

“When I look at you I see the future that I want more than anything, I see everything that I've ever wanted. But when I look at you I also see it slipping through my fingers. I can't survive that.”

“So, you’d rather lose me anyway by just breaking things off?” What was the point of wanting to end things because he might lose her but lose her anyway by ending things?

“I'm sorry, Florence. You think this isn’t killing me? Because it is. I feel like I've been forced to rip off a part of myself to survive.”

She shook her head at him. She’d come here to fight for what she wanted, to fight for them because she knew Eli needed her to, but there was only so much she could do it he wasn't willing to budge. “So, you lied.”

“About what?”

“When you said that you would always be there for me, that I was special, that you cared about me. You’re just like everyone else. You leave. You break promises. You don’t mean what you say. I told you that once you got me into bed you’d lose interest and move on and surprise, surprise, that’s exactly what happened.”

Disappointment filled her. She’d allowed herself to be lulled into what had obviously been a false sense of security. She’d believed Eli when he’d said those things to her, against all the odds, against all her conditioning, she had actually believed those words when they came from his lips.

That was her mistake.

In the end, she didn't have anyone to blame for this predicament but herself.

Well, lesson learned.

Part of fighting for what you wanted was accepting when one strategy no longer seemed viable and trying a different approach.

She’d come here to convince Eli that he was making a mistake, but he obviously wasn't interested in seeing things from her point of view.

It was time to accept the facts.

This was over.

11:37 A.M.

Florence’s words cut through him as effectively as any knife could.

“You know what the worst part is?” she asked, giving that disappointed look.

He’d rather see her angry, fire sparking from her eyes as she laid into him for ruining what they’d had than see her disappointed in him. It was like when his mother used to give him that same look when he was a boy, and he’d done something they both knew he shouldn’t have. She would never yell at him, she’d just give him that look and guilt would do the rest.

It worked just as well when Florence did it.

“The worst part is that you’re the first man I’ve ever trusted besides my brother. I didn't want to, I tried not to, that’s why I kept turning you down when you asked me out. I knew it would all end badly. I should have trusted my instincts. I’ve made it this far in life on my own, I don’t need a man, I’ll be fine by myself.”

That wasn't what he wanted.

Florence had faced her fears and hadn't given into them.

Why couldn’t he be that brave?

He wanted to, he didn't want to let Florence go. Elliot’s words kept echoing through his head. He was going to regret this. He knew it, and yet he couldn’t seem to make his mouth say the words because his mind kept conjuring up images of Florence lying in a coffin, her hands folded across her stomach, and her blonde hair lying in soft waves around her still face.

Florence looked at him, opened her mouth then snapped it closed again. With that, she turned and walked out of the office without another word.

Eli sat staring after her like an idiot.

What was he doing?

Was he really going to let her just walk away?

Was he really going to let it end like this?

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