I will do anything to keep Harley in my life—grovel, beg, buy her a new car, anything she wants. I don’t care what I have to do as long as she stays with me.
“It’s your codebase,” she counters with anger in her tone. “Your ideas. Finish it. Show me you’re serious about us.”
To finish this game, I have to get over my fears. A part of my old self is tied to the original game, which opens up the old wounds with Harley every time I envision the end product. I made some progress while she was working on it with me, but the same stumbling block is still in my way. I have to conquer my fear.
“The 10X Games Con is in two months in LA,” she says. “You have until then to produce a working beta.”
“Harley, I need you.”
“No, you don’t. You just think you need me. Don’t use me as a crutch. There’s a reason you’ve been fumbling with this game since high school. Figure it out, or we don’t have a future.”
“So, that’s it?”
She presses her lips together and nods.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Harley
Nate shit on everything I thought we were building together. Alexa motherfucking Daniels. How could he do that to me? Even years after high school, I still feel the rage bubble inside my chest when I think about her. I knew Nate had done some shitty, stupid things over the years, but I underestimated his level of reckless behavior.
It was too good to be true, I remind myself. You knew this would happen.
Callie calls as I shove the last of my things into a suitcase.
“Hey, babe,” she says with sadness in her tone. “How are you feeling? You need anything? I can come over if you want.”
“I’m going back to LA. My flight leaves in a few hours.”
“Wow, that was fast. You’re really leaving Nate?”
I zip up my suitcase and roll it out of my bedroom, taking one last look before I close the door behind me. “He chose the one person who is a deal breaker for me. Alexa ruined our friendship and did nothing but humiliate me. I guess this is the grand finale to her master plan. We need space. I can’t even look at Nate right now. Plus, I never had the chance to go back to my apartment before I agreed to marry Nate. All of this was so rushed. I think it’s time to slow things down until I figure out what I’m doing with my life.”
“I’m still in shock.” She sighs into the phone. “We knew he was a dumbass, but Alexa… I’m so sorry, girl. I really thought you two were end game.”
“I asked him not to lie to me before I agreed to marry him. I’m getting sick of all the men in my life telling me what they think I want to hear and not what I need to hear.”
“I was getting used to having you around again. I’m going to miss you. If you want, I can kick Nate’s ass for you while you’re gone.”
I laugh at her offer. “I think he’s kicking his own ass right about now. You should have seen the look on his face when he left for work. He looked like he was going to my funeral.”
“I bet he feels like it,” she says. “Nate’s been in love with you for as long as I can remember. He always tried to deny it, but no one can hide the truth from The Gossip Queen.”
“It’s not forever,” I confess. “Nate has a deadline. If he meets it, then we can talk about a future.”
“So, you’re not divorcing him?”
“I still love him. I might hate his guts right now, but my feelings for Nate haven’t changed. He’s been dragging his feet on this game for over a decade and hasn’t made much progress even with me around. If he wants me to take him seriously, he has to tell the truth, admit what he did wrong, and show me that he’s earned me. I’m sick of being a pushover. I’m tired of everyone taking advantage of me and then expecting me to roll with the punches.”
“About damn time,” she mutters. “I’ve been waiting for this day to come.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You let your dad tell you what to do. He’s controlled every aspect of your life, including your marriage to Nate. For years, I had to sit back and watch him strip you of your power. I’m glad you’re finally taking it back.”
“I’m stopping at the office before the airport to talk to my dad. And then, I’ll be back… well, I’m not sure when. I guess it depends on Nate and if he finishes the game.”
“He’ll do it,” she says with confidence. “Nate was an idiot to let you walk away before. He won’t make the same mistake twice.”