Page 5 of The Heart Breaker

By the time I reach the bottom of the stairs, the music is gone. The whole house is dead silent, every head turned my way. Heat floods up my neck and into my cheeks, prickling under my skin. I stop short, those wide eyes making it crystal cleareveryone heard. Everyone knows exactly what just happened upstairs.

A guy I don’t recognize leans in, his mouth curving into a slow, crooked grin. “He was an idiot,” he says, lifting his cup to his lips while his eyes drag over me. “If you wanna get back at him, I’m game.”

I don’t bother answering. I just roll my eyes and push past him, weaving through the crowd without looking left or right until I finally reach the front door.

I suck in a breath when I step outside, the cold air burning my lungs as I make my way to the bus stop. I tug my jacket tighter around me while I wait. By the time I finally make it home three hours later, I’m exhausted, drained, and still so angry.

The minute I get inside, I let the door slam behind me, my keys hitting the console with a clatter that makes Isabella jump, nearly dropping her phone as she sits curled up on the couch.

Her brows lift. “You’re home earl—” She cuts herself off the second she really looks at me. Her expression shifts and she sits up straighter, her brows pulling together. “Oh shit. What happened?”

I kick off my boots in the entryway, drop my bag by the door, and for a second, I can’t even answer. I just stand there, willing myself not to fall apart in the doorway.

“Cole was right,” I finally manage, the words feeling like nails scraping through my throat.

Isabella blinks, her brows shooting up. “There’s a sentence I never thought I’d hear. What was he right about?”

I press the heel of my hand to my forehead, squeezing my eyes shut. “Chase.”

“Wait—like?—”

“Yes.” I lift my head, but can barely even look at her.

Her jaw drops. “Oh my god. He cheated on you?”

“I feel like such an idiot.” I shake my head, a bitter laugh escaping me.

She shoots me a look, her eyes full of pity. God, I hate that. “You’re not. He’s the idiot.”

“Three years,” I say, dropping onto the couch beside her, my body sinking deep into the cushions, feeling so tired. “Three fucking years we were together. I knew something was off and I still defended him. To you. To Cole. I kept making excuses for him.” I let out a breath, staring at the floor. “Mostly I was lying to myself.”

She doesn’t say anything, just pulls her knees up and scoots closer, pressing her shoulder to mine.

I let out a short laugh, my fists tightening in the blanket she draped over my legs. “The worst part is Cole’s going to find out he was right about Chase. He’s never going to let me live it down. I can already see that smug smirk.” I tip my head back, staring up at the ceiling. “Honestly, I’d rather get back with Chase than admit to Cole’s face that he was right.”

Isabella finally cracks a faint smile, shaking her head. “Please don’t do that. That would definitely make you an idiot.”

“I won’t.” I glance at her from the corner of my eye. “Chase is dead to me.”

She studies me for a moment, her brows knitting together. “Are you okay?”

I shake my head, the words catching in my throat. “No,” I admit, too tired to pretend otherwise. “I’m angry. I’m embarrassed. I want to scream and break things and—” My voice wobbles just enough that I have to clench my fists, my knuckles turning white.

Isabella scoots closer, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me into a sideways hug. I lean into her, letting my head drop, fighting the urge to cry.

“He didn’t even look guilty,” I whisper after a minute. “He just looked pissed that I showed up. Like I was the one who ruined his night.”

“Then he’s even worse than you thought,” Isabella says. “You deserve so much better, Rory.”

I squeeze my eyes shut, my arms wrapping tight around my middle. For a few minutes we just sit there, side by side, neither of us saying anything.

I defended Chase. Lied for him. Fought with Cole over him. Traded friends, weekends, all that trust for him. For what? Just to end up here with nothing to show for it but the gut punch I should’ve seen coming.

I can practically hear Cole’s voice in the back of my head.

I told you so.

And God, I hate that he was right.