ess

dn't b

as and Delilah-standing there, side by side, like they had every right

hed at the fabric of my jeans. The air was thick with a quiet tension, and for a while, all I could do w

mock comfort. "I didn't want to hurt you, Vanessa," she said, her words dripping with a false kindness t

with him behind my back for months? All those times we had laughed together, shared sto

throat before I could speak again. "You've been lying to me th

n't like that, Vanessa. We didn't want to hurt you, but thin

rds came out hoarse, bitter. "You're my *si

lickering nervously between me and Delilah. He didn't say a wor

f the man I thought I was going to marry, with the wom

my soul. How could he do this to me? And why? Had I been so blind that

e was flat, devoid of any real emotion. "I know this i

erve of him. A

t, the words tasting like poison on my tong

ritory. The possessiveness in her touch burned through me, an

very ground beneath me had cracked open. "I don't

ving them a second look, bu

but I kept walking, the sound of his v

couldn't. The pain in

ged gasps as I leaned against the cool wood. I wanted to scream. I wanted to b

her into my life, into my home, welcomed her with open arms. She had become my confidante, someone I'd confided in when I was feelin

ated me, played me like a fool, all while pretending to be my friend. But no-

happened began to sink in. They were together now. Lucas and Delilah. They'd bee

reaking through my thoughts. I glanced

uc

answer. I wasn't sure if I was ready for whatever explanation he was about to give

d, but his tone was distant, dis

'sorry' is going to make it better? You've *been with her*, Lucas. For months. And you *lied* to me. Don'

breathing, could hear the faint rustling of paper, but there was not

egret but lacking real emotion. "I can't. But I need you to k

r sound. "Really? Because it doesn't sound like that

ust happened," he stammered, but I

't care anymore. I don't care about your excuses. I d

me. But something inside of me shifted in that moment. I didn't know what to do, didn't know how to m

ft to pick up the pieces of my broken heart. No. I was going to make them pa

tepping into my life, and I would