Page 65 of Inseparable
I throw my hands into the air. “Great, so Cody and Mariah knew? And they were keeping it from me too?”
He shakes his head. “Mariah doesn’t know. I made Cody swear because I knew there was no way in hell she’d keep that to herself.”
I cross my arms over my chest, my head spinning. “If you’re not going to UI, then where are you going? What are you planning to do?”
“I’ve joined the marines.”
My jaw slackens. “You did what?” If he told me he joined the Bolshoi Ballet I wouldn’t have been any more surprised.
“Cam pulled some strings, and he got me in. After training, I’m being deployed overseas for an initial stint.”
I drop to the ground on my butt, barely feeling the sharp pain skittering up my spine. Tears prick my eyes. “You’re leaving me too?”
And, yes, the prize for most selfish goes to me.
He winces. “Never. I’ll always be with you even if I’m not physically present.”
“You promised you’d always be there for me,” I whisper, looking at him as reality gives me a swift kick in the rear. “You promised, and now you’re leaving as well.” I choke on an anguished sob.
He sinks to his knees in front of me, pulling me into his warm chest. I should resist but I’m numb. “Lina, I’m sorry you’re hurt. You’re the last person I want to upset, but I need to do this for me. I need to… find who I really am, and I can’t do that here under Dad’s constant shadow. I have to break free.”
The numbness spreads, infecting every part of me. My voice sounds eerily calm as I ask the next question. “When do you leave?”
He cups my face, tilting my head up to him. His lips collide with mine in a fierce, desperate kiss. I can’t summon the effort to kiss him back. I’m too distraught. Resting his forehead on mine, he breaths heavily as tears course down his face. “I’m leaving in an hour.”
I say nothing, do nothing, and it’s like we’re frozen in time. Emotions churn inside me, panic mixing with pain and fear and a huge bucket load of disappointment. Then rage does a number on me, and the blank, empty feeling is replaced by soul-deep anger. I don’t know the boy cradling me in his arms. The boy I’ve known since I was two years old has lied to me for months.AmI such a lousy confidante that he couldn’t unburden his secret to me?I know I’m not. If he’d told me, I would’ve been shocked, but I would have listened and understood. There is no way I want Ayden to pursue something he has no interest in. If the marines are his true calling, then I would’ve supported him with that.
But he never gave me the chance.
I push him away, and he tumbles back onto his heels. “Get out.” I scramble away from him until my back hits the edge of my bed. “Go. Leave now.”
“Lina.” He starts to crawl toward me, but I stall him with a death glare.
“You wanted to leave, so leave.”
“Not like this, baby. Please. I don’t want to leave it like this. I love you.”
“I don’t care what you want. You’ve had months to talk to me. To tell me how you were feeling.” I glare at him. “God, how many times did I ask you what was wrong? I knew you were hurting, but you continually pushed me away. Maybe, if you’d explained, I’d understand, but you’ve just sprung all this on me.” I pin venom-filled eyes on him, and, in this moment, I hate him with a passion unrivalled. “You say you need to put yourself first, well, I need to do that too. You’ve broken my heart, Ayden,” I sob, losing control of my tenuous emotions. “You and Devin. The two people I entrusted it to without any fear have shattered me beyond recognition, and I’m the one who’s left alone to pick up the pieces. So, if I ask you to leave, I expect you to do that one last thing for me. I need you to leave now before I say or do something I’ll come to regret.”
Bending over, he presses a lingering kiss to my forehead, before standing up. I can’t even look at him. He pauses in the doorway, turning back around, but I continue to stare straight ahead.
“I love you, Lina, and this isn’t goodbye. Just goodbye for now.”
He walks out the door, leaving me broken beyond repair, sobbing on the floor of my bedroom.
PART II
Freshman Year of College
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
My squeal of delight filters down the phone line. “Have a fab time, Mom, and, remember, no putting out on the first date!” I hang up with her laughter ringing in my ears.
Mariah pushes her face in mine, excitement lighting up her eyes. “Your mom’s going on adate?”
I lie back on my bed, grinning. “Yep. Provided she still remembers what that entails. She hasn’t gone on a date in almost twenty years.”
“I’m happy for her.” She returns to the mirror to apply another layer of lip gloss.
