Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“It’s fine. We don’t have to eat.” I try to take her hand to walk us over to the couch, but she pulls away. Fuck, this isn’t good. I can feel it down to my marrow. Something is wrong.
“I’ve decided to move home.”
Huh? I’m confused. While she’s been staying here often, she hasn’t actually moved in, so I’m not sure why she’s telling me this.
And then she finishes her sentence, making it make sense. “… back to California.”
“What?”
“The album is done, and most of the PR will be in LA, so it makes sense for me to move back to my house in Calabasas. This was never supposed to be my permanent home anyway.”
“Okay.” My head spins. “I was hoping to be here when Gage is ready to come home, but Camden and Braxton are here, and I can always fly—”
“I don’t mean us,” she says, cutting me off. “I’m moving back to the West Coast…alone.”
“What?” I say again like a dumbass. But I’m so confused, I don’t know what else to say. “Why would you move, and I stay here?”
The answer hits me at the same time she speaks the words. “Because it’s not working out between us.”
“What?” Jesus, can’t I think of anything else to say?
“I’m sorry,” she says, her lids turning a brighter shade of red as if her eyes want to cry but she won’t let it happen. “I tried, but I can’t do it. I care about you, but I don’t want to be with you anymore.” She turns her back on me, ready to bolt like the runner she is, but before she can make it out the door, I gently grab her elbow and spin her around. Her eyes are filled with liquid emotion, and I’m baffled as to why she’s doing this when she’s clearly so upset about it.
“What’s going on? Why are you doing this?”
“I told you,” she chokes out. “It’s not working out. Please don’t make this any harder than it needs to be,” she pleads. “I’m sorry, but it’s over. I have to go.”
She runs out the door, and I follow, refusing to let her get away. I don’t know what the fuck is going on, but I’m not about to lose her without at least knowing why. Since I’ve known Kendall, she’s been a runner. When shit gets rough, she runs. When she gets hurt, she runs. When she breaks up with a guy, she runs. Hell, she ran from her wedding, climbing out a goddamn window, for God’s sake. You don’t get into a relationship with Kendall without understanding that she’s going to run at some point. The difference is, I’m always going to chase and catch her. Every single time.
“Stop,” I demand, covering the button to the elevator before she can press it. “You want to run? Fine. But first, tell me why you’re breaking up with me.”
She shakes her head. “Let me go. It doesn’t matter why. All you need to know is that we’re over.”
“Did I do something wrong?”
She scoffs through her tears. “You’re perfect, Dec. You could never do anything wrong.”
I roll my eyes, hating that she sees me without faults and flaws. She puts me up on a pedestal that nobody belongs on, let alone me.
“Okay, so you did something? Talk to me, baby,” I say, palming the side of her face. “Whatever it is, we’ll get through it together. I love you.”
For a split second, she leans in, her eyes fluttering shut, and I think maybe she’s going to talk to me. But then her eyes pop open, and I see her resolve and determination. I know it will take more than me begging to get through to her.
“There’s nothing to talk about,” she says, her back going straight. “I’m leaving, and I would appreciate it if you’d let me go.”
“Fuck that!” It’s the first time I’ve ever raised my voice at her, but I’m so damn confused and frustrated. “Tell me what the hell is wrong so I can fix it! Please.”
“You can’t fix it!” she yells back. “Nothing you say or do will fix this. So please just let me go.” She moves my hand from the button and presses it. The damn thing must’ve been sitting on this floor because it immediately opens, and she gets in. “I’m sorry,” she mouths as the doors close, whisking her and my heart away.
I consider chasing her, but whatever’s going on with her is something she isn’t ready to talk about, so instead, I go inside and blow out the candles, throw the flowers and food away, and then go down to the bar for a stiff drink while I contemplate my next move. Because despite what Kendall thinks, we’re not over, and if she thinks I’m going to let her get away that easily, she has another thing coming.