Alicia sniffled as water threatened to stream down her nose, the tears she had been holding back overflowing, desperate to free themselves.

  You lied to me… You deceived me…

  Her lips quivered. The clouded tears blurred her vision until the outside world disappeared completely. She kept staring at the window, but everything felt distant, unreal.

  “I’ll see you later,” Wilson said, standing up from the chair.

  Alicia smiled softly, rising to her feet as well.

  “Call me once you get home,” she murmured. As she leaned in to hug him, the door creaked open—Jeff walked in.

  “Oh… Jeff.” Alicia’s voice wavered, caught off guard. Slowly, she pulled away from Wilson, her throat tightening.

  Wilson glanced at Jeff, his expression unreadable. Without hesitation, he turned back to Alicia, wrapped an arm around her waist, and kissed her.

  “I’ll call you once I get home,” he said before pressing another lingering kiss to her lips. “Take care of yourself.”

  “Ye… yeah.” Alicia let out an awkward chuckle, but the weight of Jeff’s piercing gaze pressed down on her, a heavy, suffocating tightness settling in her chest. She quickly stepped out of Wilson’s embrace and led him to the door.

  “Bye.” She waved as Wilson walked out.

  The moment the door clicked shut, Alicia exhaled sharply.

  “You didn’t tell me you were coming,” she said, trying to sound normal as she walked toward the chair.

  Before she could sit, Jeff grabbed her arm and turned her to face him. His gaze bore into hers, raw and unrelenting.

  Alicia averted her eyes.

  “Look at me, Alicia.” His fingers tilted her chin, forcing her to meet his stare. She couldn’t bear it.

  In his eyes, she saw everything—his emotions, his pain, his disbelief—as if something massive had just shattered inside him.

  “How… how did you meet him?” Jeff’s voice was tight, forced. He tried to sound composed, but his pain betrayed him, making his voice tremble. “Who is he to you, Alicia?”

  If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  “He’s my boyfriend.”

  The words came firm, steady, but as soon as she saw Jeff’s eyes well with tears, her heart splintered. She wanted to run. Lock herself in her room. Cry until she couldn’t breathe.

  She had rehearsed this moment a hundred times, but every time she thought of breaking his heart, she just… couldn’t.

  She knew he loved her. And she couldn’t deny that she loved him too. Loved him so much that if she let herself, she’d give him everything—her heart, her soul, her body.

  But she had made up her mind.

  Alicia swallowed hard.

  She wouldn’t give her love to someone who knew her secret.

  She couldn’t stand the humiliation if, one day, during an argument, he threw her past in her face like a weapon. Friendship kept boundaries intact, but the moment they crossed that line into something more, those boundaries would vanish.

  I don’t want him to ever feel like he’s doing me a favor.

  “What do you mean?” Jeff’s voice broke as a tear slipped down his cheek. “Your… your boyfriend?” A dry, humorless laugh escaped him.

  Alicia shut her eyes, yanked her arm from his grasp, and turned away.

  “Don’t you get it?” she whispered, clenching her fists, trying to hold back the sobs clawing their way up her throat.

  Get a hold of yourself, Alicia.

  Her thoughts scattered when Jeff suddenly grabbed her again, this time pinning her back against the wall.

  “What—”

  He cut her off, crashing his lips against hers.

  His hands framed her face, deepening the kiss, as if the only way to pour out his pain, his anger, his desperation was through this moment.

  For a second, she was lost.

  Pleasure crashed over her, tearing down her walls. Before she could think, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down to her height, kissing him back with equal hunger.

  Jeff’s hands slid down to her waist, pulling her closer, pressing her against his body, his lips trailing from her mouth to her jaw, then down to her neck.

  And that was when panic seized her.

  Her mind screamed at her.

  Alicia shoved him back, breaking free.

  “This is wrong,” she choked out, her voice hoarse. “You know it.”

  Her breath came out ragged. She took a step back.

  “I told you… I have a boyfriend.” She forced the words out, her entire body trembling.

  “Ali—”

  Jeff moved forward, but Alicia’s heart pounded. She knew—if he got hold of her again, if he kissed her one more time—nothing would stop them.

  “Don’t,” she snapped, her voice rising. “Leave, Jeff!” She pointed at the door, her hands shaking. “Get out of my house. Now.”

  Jeff froze.

  His lips parted as if to speak, but no words came. His mind, his body, his heart—everything was too overwhelmed to process the moment.

  “You… can’t do this to me,” he whispered, barely audible. His lips quivered. “I thought…” His voice broke into a sob. “Why?”

  His tears spilled freely now.

  “I… I love you, and you know that.” More tears. “Tell me. Just tell me—how is he better than me? How?” He shouted.

  Alicia clenched her jaw, turning away before he could see the tears she could no longer fight back.

  She ran.

  Straight to her room.

  She slammed the door shut and collapsed onto the floor.

  Burying her face in her palms, she wept.

  How foolish I was… Alicia scoffed bitterly, a quiet hollow laugh escaping her lips.

  How could I be so naive? So stupid to cry over a creep? To hand him my heart like it meant nothing?

  Dear Amazing Readers,

  thank you—truly, from the bottom of my heart. Your time, your support, and the energy you bring to this journey mean everything to me. Every chapter I write is a piece of my soul, and knowing that you’re here, experiencing this story alongside me, makes it all worthwhile.

  Stay awesome! ??????