“Why are you doing this?” she asks quietly, barely holding back tears. “Did I do something wrong?”
I drop my gaze from hers, knowing I need to before her tears break me down. “We both knew this was coming.”
“Did w-we?” Her voice cracks, and I hate that it cracks. “Because I sure didn’t expect this. I came out here foryou—forus…fordibs. We’ve talked about this for months. I most certainly did not expect this.”
My eyes fall closed for a moment, and a future where Denver leaves me flashes through my mind.
That pain is much worse than this pain.
“You did, Denver.”
The use of her full name startles her; I know by the way her breaths quicken.
“You knew I wasn’t cut out for commitment from the beginning,” I push on, and the longer I talk, the angrier she gets. “Whatever you built this up to in your head is your own fault. I can’t do this.” I flick my finger between us, driving the point home. “Whatever thiswas, it’s over.”
The fury blazes in her eyes.
Good. Be angry. Hate me, Den. Hate me like I hate me right now.
And she does. She hates me. I can see it.
Without another word, she turns on her heel and continues down the walkway.
“I mean it, Denver. This is over.”
I can’t tell if I’m trying to convince her or myself.
“I heard you loud and clear…Slug.”
My breath hitches, and I know she hears it.
She did it. She called meSlug.
I know in that moment. I know.
Cap and Bucky? We’re officially done.
And the pain is everything I didn’t want.
Twenty-Five
Shepard
“You gotuslockedin a closet because you couldn’t keep your dick in your pants!”
“I didn’t hear you complaining a few minutes ago when said dick was inside you. All I heard was lots of moaning and heavy breathing, maybe a few cries for ‘more’.”
She smacks at my chest and I laugh, causing her to strike at me again.
I don’t understand how she can be upset right now. What we just did? That wasmind-blowing.
I should be committed to the crazy house because I have no fucking clue how I spent so many years not touching her.
“Murder, Shep! I will murder you!” Denny bangs on the door. “Help! I’m going to murder him, and I am way too cute for jail!”
“So dramatic.” I roll my eyes even though she can’t see me. “Let me see if Braxton is still here.”
I pull my phone out, scroll through the contacts, and tap his name just as the overhead light flicks to life.
