Breaking Away

“I apologized,” Kevin pointed out as he shrugged his shoulders.

Reese took in a deep breath through her teeth and sneered. “The hell you did! You looked at me, told me you were married, and that you couldn’t see me anymore.”

“And then I said I was sorry.”

She looked down at the ground and took in a deep breath. Phillip noticed people were looking their way. He wanted to tell them all to fuck off, but he knew that would just bring more attention. When Reese looked back up at Kevin, Phillip studied her profile and was breathless at the sight of her. Her cheeks were dark with color, her eyes glassy, and her bottom lip quivered slightly as she looked up at him.

“Is that what you tell yourself to feel better? Because I remember that night like it was yesterday, and you never said that. All you said was my bad, and then walked away from me like I was nothing but trash. So yes, I am very angry with you and no, we have nothing to fucking talk about.”

With that, she turned on her bright red heels and stormed away. Kevin looked back at him and Phillip scoffed. “Don’t look at me, dude. I would love nothing more than to knock your fucking teeth out of your mouth.”

Phillip shook his head as he went towards him, knocking into him before following after Reese. Was it immature? Sure, but he gave no fucks at all where this guy was concerned. All he cared about was getting to Reese. He wasn’t sure she knew he was following her since she didn’t look back at him, but he continued to trail her as she turned down a hall that appeared to be vacant. When she stopped and covered her face, leaning against the wall as she took in deep breaths, his heart broke for her. Coming beside her, he mimicked her stance and looked over at her, watching as her tears leaked out from under her hands.

“I can’t believe he thinks that we are cool, that I am fine after the way he did me. He ruined me, you know?” she cried, taking in deep breaths. “I gave him all of me.”

“I know. I’m sorry. He’s a douche.”

She nodded. “I loved him so fucking much. I wanted to have kids with him, get married, and just be happy. He was the prince that I was convinced I needed. He made me so fucking happy, but I should have known something was up. We never left my place, and Piper even said he was sleazy. I was oblivious to it all though. I believed I was the only one he loved but damn it, I was so wrong.” She took in a shaky breath as she wiped her hands along her cheeks. “I just don’t get it. I don’t understand how I could have been so stupid and allowed him to ruin me the way he did.”

Reaching over, Phillip grasped her thigh, squeezing it softly. “You were in love. Everything seems perfect when you’re in love,” he said softly, speaking from the heart, hoping to calm her down.

“I just feel so stupid and disgusting. Like I still feel so guilty for what we did behind her back. They are still together, you know,” she said, looking up at him, her makeup smeared from her eyes, her nose pink and her lips puffy from biting on them to keep her sobs in.

He shrugged. “I don’t know what to say about that, Reese, but I do know he didn’t deserve you.”

Her lip quivered as she took in a shuddering breath. “He didn’t?”

Turning, he leaned into the wall with one shoulder before reaching out to cup her chin. “No, baby, you are too good for him. Too beautiful, so smart and funny, quick on your feet. He’s the slime at the bottom of a trashcan, and you are a star in the sky.”

She smiled. “That’s really corny.”

He laughed, leaning into her, wrapping his arms around her waist to pull her closer. “I know. I only do it for you, to make you feel better.”

Closing her eyes, she leaned her forehead into his lips. “I hate the way he makes me feel. I’ve been holding all this anger towards him, and I just wish it would go away.”

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