Chapter 17
Trapped against the door by his body, I wrapped my arms protectively around myself, trying to stop
shaking.
But I still found my voice: “You’re literally dating Katherine. Why can’t you just leave me alone?”
Zephyr smirked, looking almost relieved.
“So you are jealous. That’s why you won’t let me touch you anymore? I already told you–what I have with her is different than what we have.”
White–hot anger surged through me.
“God, no! I don’t want anything to do with you! I don’t want to be involved with you! I don’t even want to see your face! Have you ever, even once in your life, actually listened to a single word I’ve
said?”
“I was the pathetic one who chased after you for years. If you had just been honest about liking someone else, I never would have humiliated myself like that.”
“Instead, you strung me along, treated me like your personal sex toy, without a single shred of
respect!”
Ripping these wounds open again made my voice crack, but I forced myself to continue.
“You never cared about me, but you lied and manipulated me just to get physical. We grew up together. Our moms are best friends. And you treated me like garbage. What kind of person does
that?”
Zephyr’s expression hardened.
“That’s pretty dramatic. You were into it, weren’t you?”
“When I sent you that lingerie, you weren’t exactly saying no.”
“When I kissed you during the blackout, you kissed me back. We’re both adults–you knew what was happening.”
42.7%
Cayer 17
I laughed, a hollow sound even to my wears “Yes, I was stupid enough to have fasting for you? thought you fell something real for me, tick is ooky i responded to you
“But that doesn’t justify you
t
you
miliating me to grow friends, letting thrua diagnating rumors spread, and refusing to defend me. And it aborty doesnt exome giving Katherine that stuffed rahulep made for you
“Zephyr, be honest with yourself for once–world you EVER treat Katherine the way you treated
mer
“You just wanted to have your perfect girlfriend while keeping me around as your dirty lite secYET whenever you got bored,”
Zephyr froze, the truth of my words hitting him like a physical blow,
“That’s not. I didn’t mean
After a painful silence, he tried a different approach: “Phoche, we have thirteen years of history. Throwing all that away over some misunderstanding that’s crazy.”
“If this is really such a big deal to you, I’ll break up with Katherine. For you.”
His offer was so pathetically tone deaf I almost laughed again. I shoved him away with everything I had
Even now, he completely missed the point. The person who destroyed our friendship wasn’t Katherine–it was him, with his own selfish choices.
You can reheat cold coffee, but once trust is shattered, even the memory of safety becomes a lie.
“Hard pass, Zephyr.”
“I don’t want to see you. I don’t want to hear from you. Stay away from me.” “Being near you makes me feel violated. And disgusted.”
His face crumpled as if I’d physically struck him, but I didn’t stay to watch the aftermath.
I walked away without looking back, each step feeling lighter than the last.
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