Break Up with Him, for Me (You Belong With Me 1)

“I’ve been looking all over for you.” He didn’t catch my tone at all. “I wanted us to dance again before the fireworks. I was also hoping you’d want to leave early so we can have the rest of the evening to ourselves.”

He sounded so damn sweet and genuine that I couldn’t blame myself for not seeing through his facade.

“How the hell do you sleep at night, Simon?” I asked. “I want to know.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I mean, how the hell do you sleep at night knowing that you have multiple women across the country vying for different pieces of your heart?”

He said nothing.

All I could hear was the clinking of champagne glasses and light laughter in the background.

“How many women are there?” I asked. “Do any of them know?”

“Wow. I’m not sure who has gotten into your head with these lies and ugly allegations, but— ” His voice faltered for the very first time since we met. “None of what you’ve said about me is true. I’m falling for you and only you.”

“You know, years ago, I would’ve loved nothing more than to hear you say that.”

“Better late than never, right?”

“More like, better off as never.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “We’re fucking over, Simon. I’ll send you some pictures as a parting gift, but please don’t contact me again.”

“Penelope, don’t do this to us.” He had the audacity to sound sincere. “We have something special here. I felt it the moment I saw you at the airport.”

“That was probably guilt for cheating on the other girls.”

I didn’t wait for a response. I ended the call and forwarded him every single picture I’d received from Hayden.

Once the last one went through, he disregarded my wishes.

Simon: I’m so sorry about this situation, Penelope. I’ve always been afraid of committing to one person, but I can honestly say that you were on the verge of transforming me into the better man I want to be.

Simon: I can let all of them go for you. I swear.

Simon: Please take as much time as you need to think about forgiving me. I’ll never talk to any of them again if you give me another chance.

I blocked his number and turned off my phone. I had someone far more important to think about.

When the driver pulled the car in front of my brownstone, he turned around and handed me a Kleenex.

“Hope the rest of your night gets better, Miss.”

“Thank you.” I handed him a few twenties and headed up the steps.

As I was rummaging for my keys, I spotted a note that was taped to the doorframe.

* * *

Soooo….

I went out to a Sailor Moon Con in Jersey for the weekend.

Don’t judge me!

Tell me everything (& I do mean EVERYTHING) on Monday.

Tati

P.S.—Please don’t move the star crystals on the mantle.

I crumpled the note and pushed the door open.

Wanting to silence the thoughts that were racing through my head, I hastily unzipped my dress and avoided looking at myself in the mirror as the fabric fell to the floor.

I shut myself inside the bathroom and let the tears break free as I stepped into the shower. I turned the water to the hottest setting, allowing the streams attack me with their scalding, unrestrained judgement.

You had sex with your best friend.

In a public bathroom.

You fucked him a bathroom, and you broke up with the guy he’s been helping you chase for weeks.

As much as I wanted to deny it, I knew that things would never be the same between us again.

Not after that.

I tried to think about something else—anything else, but it was no use. All I could hear over the water slapping my skin was Hayden’s deep, rugged voice.

“He’s standing right in front of you.”

“And I want you to break up with him, for me.”

The steam fogged the glass doors and assaulted my throat, making another minute inside the shower unbearable.

Giving in, I turned off the water and wrapped myself in a towel. Since I was still on edge, I headed toward the kitchen.

I needed a drink.

“Hello, Penelope.” Hayden’s deep voice stopped me dead in my tracks.

I turned around to see him sitting on the edge of my bed. He’d pushed his shirt sleeves back to his elbows, and he’d loosened his dark tie.

Staring at me with his jaw clenched, he looked torn between pulling me against him or losing his shit on me for leaving the gala.

“Is your boyfriend coming over to join this conversation?” he asked.

“He’s not my boyfriend anymore.” I swallowed. “I’ll have to figure out a title for him soon.”

“‘The One That Wasted Our Time’ seems fitting.”

“Our time?”

“Yes.” He nodded. “He’s been in the way for too long, and I wasn’t lying to you about him.”

“I’m aware.”

“I also wasn’t lying about us.”

“There is no us,” I said. “That’s the most ridiculous thing that you’ve ever said to me. Then again, it may be tied for first place with you admitting that you stalked someone for an entire week.”