“Taylor, I’m so sorry I . . .”
“Just stop. If you don’t want me, Jase, then that’s fine, I get it. But this whole thing with you pretending to be my best friend is not working anymore. I told you I loved you in Europe and you made your decision. I’m not a damn toy you can push and pull whenever you feel like it. So you don’t have some hot, blonde bitch on your arm right now . . . well too bad. I’m not playing second anymore.”
“You were never second, Taylor. Ever! That’s the problem.”
Tears threatened to build in my eyes, but I quickly pushed them away.
“Stop talking in riddles, Jase. Now is not a good time to talk. I have a date I need to go home and get ready for.”
“A date? With who?”
A smirk appeared across my face. I could almost hear the panic in his voice and I loved it. I also hated myself for feeling that way.
“My sister had her twins,” I spattered out to change the subject I had brought up.
“She did!” Excitement filled his voice and for one moment, I wanted to pretend everything was okay. I wanted to pretend Jase really meant it last summer when he whispered in my ear that he loved me. I wanted to pretend he didn’t walk away from me the morning after I gave myself to him in Paris. I wanted to pretend the girl I saw him with that afternoon never existed.
My stomach twisted as the pain of that day returned and punched me right in the chest.
“I um . . . I have to go.”
“Taylor?”
My eyes squeezed shut because I knew what was coming. “Yeah?”
“I love you.”
Slamming my hand over my mouth, I held my sobs in.
“I have to go, Jase.”
Hitting End, I dropped my phone into my lap and let myself cry until I didn’t have the energy to cry anymore.