Chapter 3 03

03

« Hmm, » I hummed, closing the front door softly behind me as I walked into Brett's familiar living room. The scent of his cologne still lingered in the air, a mix of cedarwood and something slightly spicy-something that used to make my stomach flutter.

I held the little gift bag close to my chest, my heart racing with excitement. I'd been planning this surprise for weeks. I even called off my shift just to make it perfect. His present-two tickets to the college championship game he'd been dying to attend-was tucked safely inside the bag with a picture of us from our first game day together framed in black and gold. I was so proud of it. So proud of us.

Then I heard it. A sound. Faint at first. A thud. A moan.

I paused on the stairs, frowning. Maybe he was watching one of those stupid action movies again, the ones with all explosions and very little plot. I crept up the stairs, still trying to convince myself nothing was wrong. But deep down, my gut twisted.

I tiptoed over to his door, holding my breath. My fingers gripped the gift tighter. I wanted this to be perfect. I wanted him to light up when he saw me. I wanted him to hold me and say how much he loved me and how this was the best surprise ever.

But instead-

Oh boy. Was I right? A surprise? Yeah. Just not the kind I wanted.

« Hey Brett, I got-oh my gosh, » I said, my voice faltering into a horrified whisper.

Time slowed. My heart stopped. My breath caught in my throat as I stood frozen in the doorway.

There he was. Brett. Naked. Completely and shamelessly naked. And not just alone-he was on top of Tasha. Also naked. And they were tangled together like a pair of snakes in heat.

He kissed her.

He actually kissed her.

« I love you, Tasha, » he said softly, like some kind of romantic movie moment. I could see her smile up at him as if he'd just told her the secrets of the universe. I stood there, trembling, feeling every part of me unravel.

I cleared my throat, loudly.

His eyes shot up.

The color drained from his face the second he saw me. His entire body froze as if someone had poured ice water down his spine. « Oh my gosh. Sam, baby, when did you get here? » he stammered, scrambling off of her like a guilty child caught stealing candy.

Tasha let out a soft squeak and pulled the covers around her chest, but it didn't matter. I'd already seen everything.

« Hey, Sam, I was just, uh- » Tasha began, her voice trembling.

« Shut up, » I snapped. Cold. Sharp. Final. She instantly shut her mouth and looked down, her cheeks burning red as she tightened the sheet around herself like it could erase what I'd seen.

I walked toward the dresser, where my carefully crafted gift now felt like a cruel joke. I snatched the photo of us off the frame. The picture of two smiling idiots who thought they'd beat the odds. I tore the football tickets from the back of the frame, and then-without hesitation-I hurled it to the ground.

The glass shattered into a hundred little glittering shards. Tasha yelped and turned her face away, shielding her eyes.

« Happy two-year-anniversary, boyfriend, » I spat the word like poison. His face twisted with regret, but I didn't care. I held up the football tickets-front row, perfect seats. His dream-and ripped them straight down the middle. Once. Then again. Then again. Tiny pieces fluttered to the floor at his feet.

His eyes widened. « Sam, please, » he said, but I cut him off with a glare so cold it could've frozen fire.

« Go to hell, » I hissed, turning on my heel and storming out.

I took the stairs two at a time, my lungs burning as I tried not to cry, not yet, not in front of him. My fingers fumbled for my keys as I burst through the front door and ran to my car.

« Sam! » he called after me, his voice cracking.

I locked the doors as I jumped in and started the engine. He was already pounding on the driver's side window, a sheet barely clinging to his waist.

« Sam, please! Let me explain! It's not what it looks like! » he begged, panic rising in his voice.

I didn't even look at him. My heart was pounding so loudly in my ears I could barely hear anything else. I slammed the car into reverse and stepped on the gas. He jumped back, the sheet flaring in the breeze as I backed out of the driveway.

I didn't stop driving until I was halfway down the street. My hands were shaking. My vision blurred with tears. I felt sick.

I pulled over for a second, heart racing, hands trembling, and grabbed my phone. I scrolled through my contacts, barely able to see through the flood of tears now streaking down my face. I tapped Kyrn's name and put the phone to my ear.

« Hello? » she answered instantly.

« Kyrn, » I sobbed. The tears came freely now. I didn't care anymore. I felt like my chest had been ripped open.

« Oh sweetie, what happened? » Her voice immediately dropped into comfort mode.

« He's a lying, sex-craved man-whore! » I yelled, voice breaking with every word.

There was a pause, like she was reining in her own anger. « Okay. I'm on my way. Need anything? »

« Movies and ice cream, please, » I cried harder, clutching the steering wheel like it was the only thing keeping me from falling apart.

« Okay, hun. I'll be right over. »

« Okay, thank you. Bye, » I whispered, wiping my cheeks.

« Anytime. Bye, » she said softly before hanging up.

I stared out the windshield, watching the world blur. The day that had started with so much hope had crumbled in a matter of seconds. My fingers traced the outline of where the tickets had been, now just shredded scraps in the passenger seat. Everything I thought we had-everything I thought he was-was a lie.

I took a shaky breath and turned the car back onto the road, heading to Kyrn's. I didn't know what would come next. But I knew one thing for sure.

I was done with Brett.

And this wasn't the end of me. Not even close.