Page 103 of Break My Heart
‘I didn’t end it. Gina did, by going out with another guy behind my back.’
‘She told you that wasn’t true. You chose not to believe her because it gave you an excuse to end it before you get even closer to her.’
‘That’s not what’s happening here. And she’s leaving, so it doesn’t matter.’
‘Tell her to stay.’
‘Yeah, because that worked out great with Kendall.’
‘Kendall wasn’t ready to get married. Neither were you. You were both too young and immature. You didn’t know what you wanted in life. Now you do, and even if you won’t admit it, I know you want Gina.’
‘Why are we even talking about this? She’s not sticking around. If G’s closes, she has nothing to do here. She doesn’t want to work some random job. She wants to make beer, and she should. She’s good at it.’
‘Is there anything you could do to help her stay in business?’
‘You want me to help my competitor? Seriously?’
‘There’s no reason you both can’t be successful. It doesn’t make sense that her place is struggling to get customers. Her beer is good. She renovated the building. She’s on the main road that goes into town. There’s no reason for her to not have customers, especially with all the specials she’s been running.’
‘I don’t know what to tell you. All she said when she stopped by tonight was that she’d probably be closing down.’
‘She went to see you?’
‘Yeah, to tell me she’d be leaving.’
‘That’s all she said?’
‘She said some other stuff.’
‘Like what?’
‘I don’t want to get into it.’ I look around. ‘You need anything else?’
‘Just some apples to fill the baskets, but I can get those.’
‘Then I’ll see you tomorrow.’ I take off before he tries once again to convince me to get back with Gina. He’s wasting his time. Gina’s made her decision. She’ll probably go back to Green Bay, back to her old job, and back to her ex. It’ll be like she was never here.
* * *
Just before midnight, I’m in my apartment when someone bangs on the door.
‘Open the door, Sawyer, before I break it down!’
It’s Gina, but why is she here, and why is she yelling?
‘Don’t touch me, you asshole!’ she says as I open the door. Wade’s there, holding back Gina.
‘Sorry, boss, I tried to stop her, but shit, she’s fast.’
‘Let me go!’ Gina says, struggling to free herself from Wade.
‘Let her go,’ I tell him.
He hesitates.
‘Do it or I’ll kick you in the balls, asshole!’ Gina yells at him.
He lets her go. ‘You sure you want to deal with her?’
