Page 110 of The Downside of Love
I’m bitter, yes. I don’t know if I’ll ever get over not having Rory in my life. I’ll never stop loving her, but I can also realize when something is a lost cause. She doesn’t love me. She loves him.
He saved her.
He took care of her.
He loved her when I couldn’t, and I can’t be fucking mad about that because my love runs deep, just like Stryder’s. If I can’t make her happy, at least he can.
I’m selfless enough to realize that.
“Don’t fuck with me, Colby, you care.”
“Not enough to throw five years of friendship away. You’re my brother, Stryder, and for a brief moment I forgot that. I had to be reminded today exactly what brought us together and why we’ve stuck by each other’s side. We’re each other’s family.
Weakly he says, “I betrayed you.”
I shake my head. “Despite how much it pains me to say this, I know you tried to stay away.” I reach out and grip his shoulder, forcing him to look me in the eyes. “I want you to know, it’s okay. Be with her, Stryder.”
He shakes his head, but I stop him.
“You loved her first but stepped aside for me. This is me, stepping aside for you. She’s in love with you, man. Desperately and hopelessly in love with you. There is no fighting that. She’s miserable without you.”
“Shit,” he mutters and starts pacing the room. “I don’t want to hurt her.”
“Then go be with her. There is nothing holding you back anymore. Not that you need it but you have my blessing. Be with her, Stryder. You and I both know she deserves the world. Fuck all the shit your dad has said to you. She deserves the world, so be the man who gives it to her.”
Looking up, he lets out a sigh before walking to me and clasping my hand to his, pulling me into a hug. It’s the moment I see the cloud that’s been hanging over him start to clear away, and my best friend begins to remerge.
“You’re going to want to take a shower before you head over there though. You smell like shit, dude.”
“Fuck you.” He laughs, pushing away before looking me in the eyes and pulling me into a hug one more time.
I might not have the girl, but I gained back my best friend. My family. My brother.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
RORY
The faint sound of the TV plays as my eyes focus on nothing, my body wrapped in blankets, my stomach empty and feeling nauseous every time I move. This is what true heartache feels like.
I was upset when things ended with Colby, but I knew it was for the best.
With Stryder, I’m absolutely heartbroken. My bones and muscles have frozen in place, unable and unwilling to move anywhere outside of my bed.
I was barely able to pull myself together for practice with Bryan, and the only reason I did was because of him. Because he would have had an episode if I wasn’t there, and I couldn’t put that on my parents. Broken heart or not, I made it to practice. But now, now I’m not going anywhere. I called into work, turned off my phone, and spent the day crying, trying to drain out my sorrow, so that tomorrow, I can try to start to move on. Even though I know that’s going to take a really long time.
I need him.
I need him so desperately in my life. He was the one who showed me what true love is all about, the ups and downs, the pretty and the ugly. I’ve seen it all with him.
Lost in my thoughts and my tears, I don’t hear the sound of footsteps climb my stairs or the sound of the door opening and shutting.
I only feel the dip of the mattress and the smell of his cologne.
Shooting up, I sit up and wipe away my tears as I turn to find Stryder on the end of the mattress. He’s freshly showered, his dark hair still wet, his face smoothly shaved. He looks impossibly sexy, and his blue eyes, clear as the sky, mesmerize me all over again.
“St-stryder, what are you doing here?” I wipe at my eyes and my nose, trying to hide my heartbreak. I need to be strong, because even though a part of me wishes and hopes he’s here for me, I know he still has a lot of items in my apartment that he needs. That’s probably all he came for.
He studies me before standing and rounding the bed to sit next to me. His strong hand finds my cheek where he swipes his thumb across what I can only imagine is a very red and swollen face.
