Page 25 of Inseparable
I wrench my hands from his, massaging my temples. “Stop. I don’t want to hear it. You don’t treat the people you love like that, no matter how messed up you are.”
Ayden sighs. “I will never forgive him for what he did tonight, never, but he doesn’t know how to love, Lina. That’s not what he’s grown up with. Your mom would burn the world down to protect you, and my parents have sacrificed so much for me and my sisters, but Devin has no experience of that.”
“I know that, but he had us. We loved him, but I guess we weren’t enough.”
His tongue darts out, wetting his lips. “I need to know exactly what he did. I heard the tail end of what he said to you tonight, and I’ve had my suspicions about what happened between you two recently, but I’d really rather hear it from you.”
I tell him, holding nothing back, even though I know it might hurt him to hear it, but I refuse to keep secrets from him any longer. I’ve already lost one of my best friends, and I don’t want to risk losing the other by not being completely truthful. He listens without interruption, rubbing soothing circles on the backs of my hands while I talk.
“I’m going to fucking kill him,” he seethes when I finally finish speaking.
“I don’t want you to. I just want to forget. To put it all behind me and move on.”
“I meant what I said earlier. I’m done with him. If he wants to push that self-destruct button, he’s on his own.”
“I don’t want you to pick sides.”
“The lines are already drawn, Lina, and this day has been sneaking up on us for some time. I can’t be around him. I can’t watch while he ruins his fucking life and tries to ruin yours. Enough is enough. We need to cut him loose.”
I know Ayden is right, and after the way he humiliated me tonight, there is no way I can be friends with Devin anymore, but the thought alone almost kills me. Caustic pain is ripping my insides to shreds, and sobs rumble from my chest again. Ayden doesn’t hesitate, pulling me into his warm, strong arms and cradling me to him. I circle my arms around his waist, and snuggle in closer. His scent and his body heat soothes the frayed edges of my broken heart. After a bit, I look up at him. “Thank you for always being there for me. For always being my friend.” I cup his face. “I love you, Ayden.”
“I love you too, Lina.” He kisses the top of my head. “I’ve always loved you, and I’ll continue to love you for as long as you’ll let me.”
Resting my head on his chest, I close my eyes, grateful to not be alone.
A soft thud, followed by less-than-subtle cursing, wakes me a few hours later. A blanket of dread washes over me as my eyes dart to the double doors. Ayden sits bolt upright in the bed, rubbing his eyes. I glance nervously at my bedroom door, terrified Mom is going to come barging in and freak out at the sight of Ayden in my bed and Devin with his drunken face smashed against the glass doors. Ayden snarls the instant the shadowy form on my balcony starts hammering on the glass.
“Quick, make him go away before my mom wakes.”
Ayden flings the covers off and stalks across the floor in his boxers. He yanks the doors open and Devin stumbles, almost falling into the room. I get up, grabbing Ayden’s checkered shirt off the floor and slipping my arms through it. Ayden is holding Devin upright by the shoulders, glaring at him. The smell of whiskey slaps me in the face, and my stomach twists sourly.
“Get out of here,” Ayden whispers. “She doesn’t want to see you.”
Devin looks over Ayden’s shoulder, attempting to eyeball me, but his eyes are rolling in his head. He’s still completely wasted, and I shudder to think how he got home. “Ange, I’m so sorry.” His words are slurred, and it’d be funny if it wasn’t so heartbreaking.
“I don’t want your apologies. I want you to leave.” I fold my arms over my chest, looking off to the side. If I look at him all drunk, vulnerable, and apologetic, I may cave, and I can’t cave.
Not this time.
“I didn’t mean it. I was drunk and high.”
I snort. “You didn’t mean it, so, what, that makes it okay?”
He pushes Ayden’s hands away, staggering a little on his feet. Gripping the side of the door, he leans against it, and it pains me to see him in such a state. “It’s not okay. I know that. But I’ll fix it. I’ll make it up to you.”
“I don’t see how. It’s not like you can un-fuck my enemy.” All the hurt and pain pours out of me. “It would’ve been bad enough seeing you like that with any girl, but Becky Carmichael? Seriously? You expect me to believe you didn’t mean it when you fucked her? Don’t make things worse by lying. This was totally premeditated to inflict the worst pain imaginable.” I push my face in his, anger turning the whites of my eyes red. “Well, mission accomplished, Devin. You have totally shattered my heart. I hope you’re proud.”
“Please, Ange. I didn’t know it was her. I swear.”
“What, your dick just happened to impale Becky by accident? Don’t insult my intelligence.”
He reaches for me, pain etched across his face. “I can’t lose you. Not you, Ange.”
“Too late. You should’ve thought about that before you rejected me and publicly humiliated me with that slut.”
He drops to his knees, clutching my bare legs. “I’ll tell everyone I was drunk and that I didn’t mean it, and I’ll have nothing more to do with Becky. Please, Ange. Please forgive me. I’m begging. I’ll do anything.” He trails his mouth along my legs, causing goose bumps to raise along my flesh.
I can feel my resolve wavering, but I don’t want it too. I’ve always forgiven Devin way too easily, but I can’t do it this time. This time he has gone too far. “Stop, Dev. Just stop. I want you to leave.”
