Page 95 of Clashing
“Because you have to be ready for that shit! You have to be ready for the worst. Who leaves keys sitting in their unlocked car while they’re unconscious? Who does that! Is your apartment locked right now? For fuck’s sake, Scarlett, it’s like you intentionally set yourself up to get hurt when you’ve already been hurt and should know better. Stop being so fucking stupid about basic safety, and I won’t be so goddamn mad.”
She sucked in a breath. A sound that reminded me of someone being stabbed. They didn’t scream. They gasped.
You fucking idiot. How could you say that to her!I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. As if any of it was her fault. I didn’t for one second believe what happened to her was her fault, but my word choice didn’t convey that.
I thought I’d seen her hurt. I was wrong. This was so much worse.
I wanted her to yell. I deserved for her to yell and scream at me for uttering such horrible words. But she didn’t. She stared at me like she couldn’t believe what I’d said. I couldn’t either. How could I say that after how good she treated me?
“Scarlett.” My chest caved in and every nerve in my body pricked with deserved pain. “Baby, I’m sor—”
“Get out of my truck, Ryker.” Although calm, her voice quivered.
“Scarlett . . .” I reached for her, but she jerked back. “I’m sorry, I—”
“Get. Out.”
“Scar—”
“I’mnotstupid.” Her sharp, hurt tone pierced my rapidly disintegrating heart. Her voice trembled, eyes red and glistening. “Stop talking to me like this. A locked door is what kept me from escaping when Todd attacked me, youasshole.”
Oh fuck. Oh no.
“So, forgive me if I get uneasy locking doors now. Just because I don’t take care of myself the way you think I should, doesn’t mean I’m stupid.”
“No, I know. I know you’re not. I’m so fucking sorry, I—”
“Get out.”
“Scarlett, please—”
“Get out!” she screamed, tears spilling—each one a punch to the gut.
Scarlett covered her face with her hands, her shoulders quaking. I couldn’t leave her like this. Icouldn’t. I barely touched her shoulder, and she shrugged it off.
“Get out,” she choked, shoving my arm. “Right now.”
I didn’t want to, but I was the reason for her pain. She’d looked out for me last night and I fucking hurt her. I exited the truck. She didn’t move until I finally coaxed the dogs out. I opened my mouth to say I was sorry, but she scooted over to the driver’s side, glanced over her shoulder, backed out of my driveway with a squeal, and sped away, dust kicking up behind her wheels.
She didn’t look at me. Not once. And I couldn’t blame her.
I was such a fucking prick. This was what fucking up looked like.
This was crossing the line.
Chapter thirty
Buying Time
Scarlett
Iliedaboutbeingonmy period, so Collin stayed away. He wasn’t Ryker. Like every other guy I’d dated, he left me alone, no questions asked. I’d hardly heard from him since. Though I wasn’t menstruating, I might’ve preferred that.
I thought I knew heartbreak when Ryker told me he didn’t have feelings for me. That wasnothing. This hurt cracked down to my soul. He took one of my most vulnerable moments and threw it in my face. Made me feel small. Made me feel stupid, like it was my fault.
Tears flowed endlessly. My chest was sore from sobbing. My throat tender. My eyes swelled shut and my head throbbed from too much crying. My lungs constricted to the point I couldn’t remember how it felt to breathe without pain.
I knew Ryker had issues. He’d been through a lot, but trauma didn’t excuse cruel behavior.
