Chapter 6

I decided we needed a few days apart to cool down. But Zach refused.

The second he found out I was at my mom's, he bought a bunch of expensive health supplements for her and loaded up on my favorite snacks, bringing bags of stuff to the house after work.

When he arrived, my childhood friend Julian happened to be there.

Julian and I grew up together and were practically like siblings.

When Zach walked in, Julian and I were sitting close together on the couch, looking at photos of Julian's new girlfriend.

We were close, but there was absolutely nothing romantic about it.

Zach dropped the bags and marched straight over to us.

I looked up. His face was cold, staring at me.

"What's wrong?" I asked, confused.

He didn't say a word. Instead, he squeezed himself right between Julian and me.

Julian clearly picked up on the tension. He stood up and said, "I should head out. Chloe, I'll bring her over to meet you next time. You guys will love each other."

"Sounds great!" I replied.

Once Julian left, Zach finally spoke. "Babe, I came here to apologize. You can't just hang out with another guy to get back at me. Don't do things just to make me jealous."

I had told Zach about Julian before. I told him they were just friends and that Julian was practically engaged.

If Zach cared even a little, he wouldn't be making this ridiculous scene.

"Zach, so you're allowed to flirt with other women, but I can't even sit next to a male friend? One rule for you, another for me? Why are you such a hypocrite?"

"That's completely different!" Zach argued. "Those girls throw themselves at me. It's not like I'm initiating it."

"So you're saying as long as they throw themselves at you, you won't say no?"

"Of course that's not what I mean! Why are you twisting my words and overreacting?"

"Overreacting?" I let out a bitter laugh. "Zach, I've thought about it. We really aren't right for each other. Let's break up."

"Break up again? Babe, you can't keep threatening to leave me. What if one day I actually agree?"

So that was it. He thought I was just playing games, testing his limits. He thought if he agreed, I'd be devastated because I couldn't control him anymore.

I grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the front door.

"Then please, agree right now. Get out."

I pushed him out and slammed the door, ignoring his frantic apologies.

To Zach, every time I said "let's break up," it was just a temper tantrum. He believed that with a little sweet-talking, I'd come running back.

And honestly, he wasn't entirely wrong.

I couldn't let go of him. Out of all my past boyfriends, I loved him the most.

But that night, I received a picture message on my phone.

It was Zach at a nightclub. He was grinding against a scantily clad woman on the dance floor, their lips practically touching.

It was another completely random girl I had never seen before.