Ain't No Sunshine

“What?” He pulls away, stunned, genuinely not seeing the pain he’s caused by not being honest with me. “I’m nothing like them. Don’t you dare put me in the same category. Our situation is nothing like the two you just described.”

I wish that was true. I really do. But at the end of the day, I still wound up hurt. “I thought you were different,” I whisper, unsure of what else to say.

“Did you?” Nate asks, moving in front of me until he has my attention. “Did you, Cory? Because right now, it feels like I never stood a chance. Like you were just waiting for me to fuck up.” He’s quiet, but his voice is coated in hurt and anger.

“You kissed her, Nate.”

“She kissed me!” he yells, pointing to his chest. “I let her have her moment, hoping that she’d realize on her own that there’s nothing between us. I don’t want her.”

“It’s only a matter of time. Even your mom said so.” His eyes flash to mine, but I don’t let him say a word. “She’s your ex, Nate. I can’t compete with your history.”

“Are you listening to yourself? She’s my ex. E. X. I don’t want to get back with her. She’s my ex for a reason. Do you want to get back with the guys who hurt you?”

“No, of course not. But—”

“No but, Cory. You’re being unreasonable.” He shakes his head with a sigh. “I don’t want to fight. What can we do to fix this?”

My heart cracks in two. Right now, I don’t think we can fix this. There is far too much to process. The kiss. His mom’s words. Liv’s words. I don’t even know where to begin.

“We fell hard and fast, Nate. I think maybe we need to take a breather. The stuff with your ex aside, you still lied to me.”

“When? When did I lie?”

I sigh and sit on a concrete bench near the wall. “You said your parents would love me, but they were never going to accept me, and you knew it.”

“I didn’t know for sure. That’s not… I didn’t tell you because I wanted to protect you.”

“You didn’t even tell your mom about me. To me, that sounds like you knew. I just need some time.”

Nate flinches at my words before gripping his shoulder. “How much time? Time never does anyone any favors.”

“I don’t know. I’m sorry.”

He drops beside me with his face in his hands. “So what? You want the break you asked for when this drama all started?”

“No, Nate. It’s not a break. It’s a breakup. We’re done.”

“Like hell we are,” he grunts, jumping to his feet with a look of devastation on his face. The expression quickly morphs into anger when he sees my blank stare. “This is not happening!” he yells, shoving a nearby statue that crashes to the ground. It breaks into pieces on impact, and I flinch as Liv’s words flit back to my mind.

“I’m sorry, Nate.”

“No, no! Cory, no.”

“I love you, Nate, but it hurts to be with you, and I deserve better than that.”

With those parting words, I run from the room, slamming the door just as something else crashes to the floor.

I find my way through the maze of hallways and make it out of the house before the first tear falls. I want to appear strong. I don’t want any of them to see me crying. When I hit the pavement, I look around, no idea what I’m going to do or where I’m going to go. The door opens behind me, and I wince before walking a little faster.

“Cory, wait!” Emily yells, running out after me. I pause because she’s been nothing but nice to me, yet I’m still on edge, nervous about what she’s going to say. “Let me grab my car, and I’ll take you wherever you need to go.” I sag in relief and nod before following her.

“Where to, ma’am?” Emily asks in a cockney accident when I’m settled in my seat. She’s trying to cheer me up, and while I appreciate it, smiling is a struggle right now.

“I don’t even know,” I answer honestly, dropping my head into my hands. “All my things are still inside your parents’ place, and—”

“Do you need them? You’ve got your handbag, so you have the essentials. Is there anything else you need right away?” I look down at the bag over my shoulder. I don’t even remember collecting it on my way out.

I rack my brain for anything that I might need in my suitcase and come up empty. It’s just clothes and toiletries. Both of which I have more of at home. “Not really.” I say, shaking my head.