Unbroken Rules (Rules 3)

“Winter, I…” He pushes to his feet. “I’m so sorry. I can explain.”

No, this isn’t real.

The girl in the hall…

She wasn’t leaving Vic.

She was leaving Haze.

“Tell me you didn’t,” I beg, my voice so weak it’s barely audible.

“I’m so sorry.” He walks toward me.

“That’s it?” I blurt. “That’s all you have to say?”

“I never meant for this to happen. It’s just… This time apart made me realize that I don’t feel the same way about you anymore.” He can’t even look me in the eyes, too much of a coward. “I didn’t want to admit it to myself. I didn’t want to accept that what we have is gone. Vic and I went out for a drink when I came to get my things yesterday, and she was there. We started flirting, she kissed me, one thing led to another and…”

“You slept with her?” My voice cracks on the last word.

“You deserve better than me, Winter. You always have. I was never good enough for you.”

“No.” I shake my head in denial. “I don’t believe you. You’re lying.”

He sighs. “I’m not.”

“Yes, you are.” I step forward and push him with all my strength. He tumbles back a step. “You’re lying. We were so close to getting back together. Just yesterday, you said…” Here come the tears. “You said you loved me.”

He rubs his neck. “I know, and I really thought I did.”

I can’t fucking breathe.

“But I don’t.”

Merely hours ago, I thought we still stood a chance. Even after he lied to me, I was dumb enough to think we’d find our way back to each other. But after this? It’s really over. He did the one thing I can never go back from.

Let that sink in, Winter.

He had sex with someone else. He cheated on you.

I offer him the last thread still holding my heart together. “I need to hear you say it.”

“Please don’t ask me that.”

“Haze, if you really cheated on me… if you really just destroyed everything we had for one night, I need you to have the balls to look me in the eyes and fucking say it,” I snap.

He hesitates for a minute. Then, still with his eyes glued to the floor, he exhales. “I slept with her.”

“Look at me,” I insist.

So, he does. Stares me dead in the eyes and says it.

“I slept with her.”

My heart sinks.

“And everything you said? About how you’d never give up on us? How I was the risk you’d always take? It was all bullshit? Just some twisted game?” I’m bawling at this point.

“It wasn’t.” He steps forward, his eyes devoid of the promises I thought would always be there. “I do care for you. But I’m not in love with you anymore. Haven’t been for a long time.”