Heartless: Episode 3

“She’s a girl, Daniel. Girls don’t hang around for that long for no reason.”

“So I’ve heard.” I shook my head.

“You strung her along. She thought she had a future with you. Hell, she wanted to marry you.”

Marry me? What the fuck?

I never alluded to marriage to Kate or any of the other women I’d slept with.

“I never promised her anything of the sort. I am telling you that I was nothing but upfront and honest with her at all times.”

“Who fucks a girl for two years without having feelings for her? Who does that?” he asked out loud, his irritation growing.

He truly wasn’t hearing a thing I’d said. I sucked in a breath and followed my gut.

“Who tells a girl no guy will ever want her because she’s too ambitious?” It was a wild guess, but I knew I was right.

The second Ben had laid eyes on Elizabeth, his face had lit up like a fucking Christmas tree while her face had dropped and then scowled. She hadn’t been happy to see Ben, I sensed that immediately.

“What the hell are you talking about?” He looked up at me, his jaw already bruising.

“Elizabeth,” I simply said her name—one word, one perfect word.

“Oh Christ, Daniel, that was eight years ago. Apparently, she completely got over that. She seems fine. She’s with you, isn’t she?” He waved his arm toward where Elizabeth had once stood.

“No, she’s clearly not with me, and she’s not fine. What did you say to her?”

“I told her that you were dating my sister. I didn’t know any different. I warned her to stay away from you.” He lowered his head and looked at his feet.

“You what? Motherfucker.” I pushed off from the wall and started pacing. “What did you show her on your phone?”

He made a face like he couldn’t remember, and I grabbed him by the collar.

“What did you show her?”

“A picture of you and Kate. Kate sent it to me yesterday after I texted and asked how she was. She said that you two were hanging out, having a great day, and then she sent me the photo.”

“Yesterday? I haven’t seen her in days. Show me.”

I had no idea what kind of game Kate was playing, but she was fucking with my life, and I wouldn’t have it. I watched as Ben pulled up the text from her, and I saw the picture of Kate and me, smiling. It was the day I’d ended things with her. She’d asked if we could tak

e one last selfie together. I’d warned her that I didn’t think it was a good idea, but she’d insisted, and I couldn’t tell her no after her meltdown. My guilt was already eating me up inside. I’d figured there was no harm in one last photo with her?

“I should hit you again for not minding your own business.”

He raised his hands in surrender. “Sorry. I didn’t know. I honestly didn’t know. Kate’s been lying to us all for years when it came to the two of you.” He grabbed his head as if trying to process it all. “But it all makes sense, like why you didn’t do any holidays with the family. She always made up excuses for you, but now, I get it.”

“Holidays were not a part of the arrangement. That would only confuse things, and I didn’t want there to be any confusion. I wanted to avoid this exact scenario,” I confessed.

“I really screwed things up for you with Elizabeth, huh? Do you want me to call her and apologize?”

“I’m a grown man. I can handle my own shit with Elizabeth. Why don’t you go visit your little sister and make sure she’s okay since she’s obviously not?”

It wasn’t really a request to be honest. My tone demanded that he stay the hell away from Elizabeth and go where he was wanted. Which wasn’t anywhere near my girl.

He stood there, shaking his head like a lost dog. “You’re right. I should go talk to Kate. Sorry again, man.”

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