“I can’t. It’s already set in motion. There’s nothing to be done.”
“Of course there is! There’s always a choice, but you can’t see it through all the shit in front of you. You can leave. Sayfuck youto your parents and leave.”
My shoulders sag, and I let out a rattling, dying breath.
“I’m not strong enough.”
“I can be strong for you,” he begs. “Don’t be a coward. Don’t let them win.”
I can’t reply. I can’t. I need time to think about this.
You’ve had your whole life to think of a solution. Is it really that simple?
I don’t know.
“I can’t do this,” he says and then strides from the room.
Those words. They stab at my already bleeding heart. I stand up and scramble after him, chasing him into the other room, grabbing onto his arm.
“Please stay, Caleb,” I choke out.
“And what, Whit? Watch you get married to a fucking woman in a few months? Fuck that.”
He wrenches his arm from my grip and grabs the duffel bag I bought him, stuffing it full. Then he grabs a pair of pants and a shirt, pulling them on. He places his hat low over his forehead, and I let out a pained groan.
“I’m staying somewhere else tonight.”
“Please don’t go,” I whisper, and I nearly fall to pieces when he reaches out and cups my face.
“Will you be safe if I leave?” he asks, and I know what that means.
I choke out a sob. I never deserved him. Never.
“Will you be safe?” he asks, his voice cold, so unlike him.
I recoil, knowing I did this to him. I made him like this.
It’s all my fault.
I need to let him go.
He deserves to be happy. Without me.
I nod and watch as he turns and walks out of the room. And I can’t help but call out after him.
“Wait! Does this…” I inhale shakily, “…does this mean we’re over?”
He rubs at his eyes and exhales shakily.
“Yeah, man. We’re through.”
Then he turns his back on me and walks away.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CALEB
I feel like I’m falling apart. My bones ache, my head throbs. It’s over. Whatever that was is gone.