Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 113934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
Zeb made a move like he was going to kiss me good-bye, but I shook my head. He lifted his hand instead and turned to leave.
I focused back on Mitch, who was now standing, his hands grabbing at his hair.
No matter what he had done to me, I still loved him. A piece of me would always love him. Seeing him with such a pained expression on his face about killed me. All those nights, I had lain in bed, wanting to make him feel the way I felt. Now, I’d give anything not to see him hurting.
Did he feel the same way after his cheating episode? Did he ache over my own hurt?
It was then I took a good look at him. He’d lost weight, and his eyes looked sad. I’d never seen him look so tired.
“Mitch,” I whispered as I took a step closer to him.
He dropped his hands, as if he had given up on everything. I could almost see the life being sucked out of him. I couldn’t move. I hit a brick wall the moment I saw his tears.
“Payback sucks,” he whispered.
Anger quickly replaced what sympathy I’d had for him. “Is that what you think I’m doing? Paying you back by being with someone else?”
He slowly shook his head. “No. That’s not the type of person you are, Michelle. I know it’s simply Karma coming back on me, and I knew it would happen. What I didn’t know was how bad it would hurt.”
I almost buckled over. It felt like someone had sucker-punched me in the stomach.
Why? Why is this happening to me? To him? To us?
Oh, that’s right. Because Mitch cheated on me.
He’d put his own greedy thoughts ahead of my feelings. Ahead of our relationship.
Wiping his tears from his face, he forced a smile. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I let you down. I’m sorry I let my family down.” His voice shook, and he had to pause for a few seconds before speaking again, “I’m so damn sorry I hurt you. I came here with the intention of begging you to forgive me. To give me another chance.” He let out a gruff laugh and looked away. His hand pushed roughly through his messy hair.
I took in his appearance again.
When was the last time he brushed his hair?
It looked like he had been sleeping in the same clothes for days.
“I see now, that was a mistake. You’ve moved on, and I…I don’t…”
He swallowed hard, and I fought to try and find air to breathe.
His eyes met mine. “I don’t blame you, Michelle. What I did to you is unforgivable. I can’t forgive myself, so I’m not sure why I thought you would be able to forgive me.”
Standing there, frozen, I tried to make myself speak. A part of me wanted to run into his arms and tell him I forgave him. The other part would never forget the way I’d felt when he told me he had slept with another woman. The wound was deep, and I wasn’t sure when it would heal…or even if it would.
Mitch stared into my eyes, waiting for me to say or do something to show him that I forgave him.
My head was spinning, and my heart felt like it was about to beat out of my chest.
I took a deep breath and was about to talk when Mitch looked down. He slowly turned and walked away from me. I took a step forward and barely held out my hand, but then I dropped it.
Just when I had thought I didn’t have any tears left to cry, they came again. I watched the love of my life retreat further and further away from me. When he turned the corner, my whole body slowly dropped to the ground.
Burying my face in my hands, I cried out Mitch’s name.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
* * *
Mitch
Two Months Later
MY PHONE BUZZED on the side table, causing me to turn and see Wyatt’s number. Sighing, I sent the call to voice mail.
“Dude, you look like shit.”
I didn’t even bother looking at my roommate, Chuck. He’d been telling me I looked like shit for the last six months.
“What else is new?” I somberly said.
“You need to get out and get laid. Forget about her, Mitch. She’s moved on, and now, you need to. Dude, you have endless pussy at your feet. Take advantage of it.”
I rolled my eyes. It was true. If I wanted to, I could probably call two girls and have a threesome within the next hour. Something a few of the football players had done already. I’d had to stay at a hotel more than a few times after coming back to my room and seeing two girls all over Chuck. A couple times he’d offered me one of the girls. I never once had the desire to hook up with any of them.