Chapter 15
I’m sitting in my apartment, curled up on the couch with a cup of coffee, trying to pretend that I’m not about to lose my mind. My phone buzzes on the coffee table, and I already know who it is before i pick it sp
It’s my mother
I can’t avoid her forever 1 take a deep breath and swipe the screen
“Hey, Mom,” I say, my voice already tired.
“Aria, honey, I need to talk to you,” she says, her tone unusually serious. I’m at Brandon’s mom’s place. She wants to meet with you. It’s important.”
I roll my eyes even though she can’t see me. “I’m not meeting her, Mom. I’m not getting back with Brandon.”
I can practically hear my mother sighing on the other end. “Aria, listen to me. I know you’re hurt, but Brandon loves you.
He’s been begging me to talk to you. This could be your last chance to fix everything before it’s too late.”
I can feel my blood start to simmer. “Fix everything?He’s the one who messed everything up, Mom. I don’t need him to fix anything. I’m done with him.”
There’s silence on the other end before my mom speaks again, this time more calmly. “I know you’re hurt, sweetheart, but maybe you need to hear him out.”
“No,” I snap, my voice a little louder than I mean it to be. “I don’t need to hear him out. 1 don’t want anything to do with him anymore. I’m done with all of it.”
“Aria, please. Just come over, for me. For your father. He’s worried, too,” she says softly, and my frustration flares.
I’m about to argue, but then I think of my father, and suddenly I feel guilty. He’s always worried about me.
Always trying to make peace. I sigh, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on me
- me.
“Fine,” I say, rolling my eyes even though I know she can’t see it. “I’ll come, but only to get you two off my back. That’s it.”
Thang up before she can say anything more, feeling annoyed but also a little defeated. I don’t want to go, but I’m not going to leave my mom hanging
I walk into Brandon’s mom’s house feeling like I’m entering a battlefield I’m not sure what I’m expecting, but I know that I’m not looking forward to it.
His mother greets me with a warm smile, but I can tell there’s a hint of desperation in her eyes. “Aria, thank you for coming,”
“Yeah,” I mutter, barely making eye contact. “Let’s get this over with.”
Brandon’s mom motions for me to sit down, and I reluctantly take a seat on the couch. My mother is sitting across from me, looking way too calm for my liking.
“Aria,” Brandon’s mom starts, her voice soft but insistent, “We just want to talk. We want you to understand how much Brandon loves you.”
I let out a short laugh, the bitterness in my tone unmistakable. “Love? Love doesn’t break someone’s heart and lie to them. Love doesn’t cheat. You don’t get to tell me about love after everything he’s done.”
My mother looks at me with wide eyes, like she can’t believe I’m being this blunt in front of her. Brandon’s mom opens her mouth to say something, but I cut her off before she
can.
“Look,” I say, my voice steady but sharp. “I’ve heard all the excuses. I’ve heard all the reasons why I should take him back. But I’m not interested. I don’t need him. I don’t want him. And I’m not going to sit here and pretend like I do.”
Brandon’s mom looks like she’s been slapped, but I don’t care. She’s not the one who’s been betrayed.
“I’m sorry if that’s hard for you to hear, but it’s the truth. I’m done with him. And I’m done with all of this.”
I stand up, my hands shaking slightly as I grab my purse. “Tell Brandon I’m not coming back to him. Ever.”
I turn to leave, but before I can walk out, my mother calls out to me.
“Aria, please,” she pleads. “Don’t throw this away. You deserve happiness too.”
I pause for a second, my back to her, but I don’t turn around. “I will find my happiness. Without him.”
With that, I walk out the door, my heart pounding in my chest. I’m not sure if it’s from the anger or from the relief, but either way, I’m done.
Later that day, I head to Brandon’s company. I’m not sure what I’m expecting, but I’m ready for whatever happens. I walk into the building, my heels clicking on the marble floors, and make my way to the elevator.
When I reach his office floor, I walk straight to his desk, not bothering to knock.
Brandon looks up, his eyes widening in surprise. “Aria? What are you doing here?”
I don’t give him a chance to respond before I speak. “I came to tell you something. And I need you to listen carefully.”
His face falls, like he knows something’s coming, and he stands up from behind his desk, walking toward me.
“Arla, please, 1-”
I hold up my hand, cutting him off. “No. No more apologies. No more excuses. I’m not here to listen to anything you have to say. I just came here to warn you.”
He looks confused, like he doesn’t understand what I’m talking about. “Warn me?”
I take a step closer to him, my voice steady but cold. “I don’t want you anywhere near me. Not now, not ever. I don’t care what you want, Brandon. I don’t care what you think you’re entitled to. Just stay away from me.”
His face shifts from confusion to hurt, but I don’t care. He deserves to feel hurt. He deserves to feel the weight of what he’s done.
“I’m serious, Brandon,” I continue, my voice low and sharp.
“You had your chance, and you blew it. Don’t come looking for me again. Don’t try to fix things. Because I’m done.”
He opens his mouth to say something, but I’m already turning around to leave.
Chapter 15
I don’t look back. I don’t need to.
I’m done.
