Can't Fix Cupid

I roll my eyes. “We dated for a few weeks. Things ended. That’s it,” I tell her. The lies don’t sound nearly as bitter as they taste.

Blue narrows her eyes on me, but that’s my only warning before she rears back and then punches me in the face.

My head snaps to the side upon impact, and her knuckles instantly make my jaw ache. Damn, she can throw a punch.

My security guard, having been watching our exchange, comes rushing out, but I stop him. “It’s all right, Bill. You can go back inside.”

“Are you sure, Mr. Knight?” he asks warily.

“I’m sure.”

My eyes stay on Blue as I listen to Bill slowly walk back into the building.

I watch her as she shakes her hand slightly. “You hurt my damn hand, you thick-headed ass,” she hisses.

“I’ll try to be a softer target for your next punch,” I deadpan.

She glares at me, clearly unimpressed.

I sigh and run a hand over my sore cheek. “How is she?”

The words fall unbidden from my lips before I can stop them. The second they’re out, I wish I could take them back.

Blue crosses her arms in front of her, and I’m shocked to see that alongside her fury, she also has a sheen in her eyes. “Why?” she snaps. “Don’t suddenly act like you care. You hurt her. Bad. She’s sad all the goddamn time. But you wouldn’t care about that, would you?” she challenges. “Because you’re Warren Knight. This is what you do. You use women and then you toss them away. But why did you have to do it to her?” she demands, her bottom lip trembling. “Out of all the people in the world, why do it to such a loving person like Trix?”

I realize then that Trix didn’t tell her about my medical condition. She probably hasn’t told anyone my secret. I don’t know whether it’s because she’s trying to protect me or not, but regardless of her reasoning, I’m grateful.

“I wish I hadn’t,” I confess. “If I could go back—”

Blue cuts me off. “Spare me the line. Fuck going back. How about you man up and go fucking forward?” she demands. “That’s what she deserves. Nothing less.”

“On that, we can agree.”

She stares at me, her brown eyes filled with contempt as she takes my measure. She shakes her head, obviously finding me lacking. “You know, for a second there, I thought you were really good for her. And I know she was good for your stupid ass. But then you had to go and ruin it.”

I say nothing. What’s the point? She’s right.

“You fucked up this time, Knight. And you’re going to regret it. That’s the only reason I’m not kicking you in the balls right now. That regret is gonna hurt far worse than any hit I could deliver.”

She turns and walks away, not sparing me a second glance. My eyes fall away from her retreating figure before I open my car door and slide inside. As soon as the door closes behind me, my driver takes off, and once more, I bring up my thumb to brush against my scar.

Blue doesn’t have to worry about whether or not I’ll suffer with regret. I already do. And she’s right. It fucking hurts.

Once I get home, I work for several more hours.

Work, work, work.

That’s what my life consists of. It’s a constant routine. One I can control. A needed distraction.

By the time I look over at the clock, I see that it’s two o’clock in the morning, so I force myself to close my laptop. I rub my burning eyes before getting up and heading to the backyard for some fresh air. I walk past my pool and find myself going down the hill to the beach.

I stand at the shoreline, hearing the echoes of her sobs in the wind. Envisioning how her tears glittered as they tracked down her cheeks. She looked distressed and somber, and so goddamn beautiful that all I wanted to do was pull her into my arms and soothe her back to smiles.

I’ve come here and done this very same ritual every damn night. I don’t know why I continue to torture myself by replaying our fight. Maybe it’s because I know I deserve it. I deserve this awful feeling in my chest.

My only hope is that she moves on. I hope she finds someone who will love and cherish her the way she deserves. And he damn well better appreciate the color she’ll bring to his life and adore her for who she is.

By the time I drag my weary feet back up the steep steps of the hill, I’m so exhausted that dizziness spins my head. I really should’ve gone to sleep like Harvey suggested.