Page 174 of There's No Us Without You
Fool me once, shame on her. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Isn’t that the saying? I only have myself to blame for trusting her again.
“Emerson,” Tyler says, bringing me back into the moment. “I’m doing this for your own good. Trust me.”
My hand gripping the phone shakes. “Trust you why? What the fuck are you going to do?”
“I’m cutting you off. I’ve spoken to Brady, and he’s agreed to stop supplying you.”
“Wait, Ty.” My voice catches in my throat as hot tears roll down my cheeks. “Come on, man. I just need a couple more weeks and then I swear I’m done.”
My entire body is shaking now, and I’m on the verge of collapsing, my legs growing weaker the longer I stand in the same position at the front door.
This isn’t happening.
It can’t be happening.
I need these drugs to keep me going for the next three weeks.
Three fucking weeks.
“I’m sorry,” Tyler says, sighing. “I really am. But you’ll understand soon, I promise.”
The phone goes dead, and I’m left breathless. I press a hand to the wall to steady my breathing, my chest crushing my lungs as I struggle to take in enough oxygen.
My vision blurs around the edges, tiny white spots dancing in front of my eyes. Is this what a panic attack feels like? Or a heart attack?
At the moment, I’m not sure which would be worse.
When Eden’s soft humming filters downstairs from the upstairs bathroom, my upper lip curls.
I race up the stairs—my legs carrying me towards the only woman that has now broken my heart twice—and down the hallway until I’m standing in front of the bathroom door.
My hand is on the handle before I even realise what I’m doing.
FORTY-EIGHT
Eden
I’m shovingmy black tank top over my head when Emerson barges into the bathroom, his face red, his chest rising and falling hard and fast.
“How could you?” He practically spits the words at me.
“What?” I swallow hard. “Em, what are you talking about?”
My heart is hammering in my chest because I have an idea what he’s talking about. Tyler told me he wouldn’t say anything, yet here we are, with Emerson glaring at me as though I’ve killed his entire family.
Or broken his heart.
Again.
“You went behind my back and spoke to Tyler about me. How could you do that? You know how much soccer means to me, and now I’m just—fuck.” He shoves both hands into his hair and tugs it repeatedly, tears streaming down his face. “I’m so fucked.”
My own tears sting my eyes at seeing him so broken. “I... I’m sorry,” I say, taking a tentative step towards him, but not touching him. “I didn’t know what else to do. I’m worried about you. It’s because I lo?—”
“Don’t you fucking dare say you love me, Eden. I swear to god, don’t you dare. You’re a liar.”
“Em, please. I’m sorry.” My hands are shaking, my legs barely able to hold me up as I try to hold myself together.
