Because fuck was I sorry.

“Just… give me some space.” She turned and left me standing there. Vincent clapped me on the back as he rushed past me to catch up to her.

“She’ll come around. You know she will,” Levin said, joining me.

“I almost killed her.”

“Me too. And she still loves me.”

I sighed. He had a point.

* * *

That afternoon I realized I was closer to reconciling with my father than I was to Bianca. We barely spoke. I was going insane. I missed her so much it hurt.

And something was wrong.

It was something that sat in the pit of my stomach and ate at me. It was so bad that I even texted Vin and Levin and asked them if everything was OK. The lords were still being their usual dick selves. Bianca was back to ignoring my existence, but I was giving her the space she wanted, even if I was choking to death from the distance.

Nothing. No one could confirm it.

So maybe I’d caught some anxiety, something completely unlike me.

All I knew was that I was alone and missed my wife.

I didn’t give a shit about the sugar I was pushing or the issues with my father or anything else. I only wanted my wife back.

So much so that I’d go to her tonight and try again. Because I just couldn’t live like this. A new resolve set in. A dangerous one.

CHAPTER27

Bianca

“Come on,” Vincent said, leading me to the alley between the science and art buildings. I followed him wordlessly. The entire winter break had been a nightmare. I hadn’t even felt up to celebrating Christmas. The rest of the gifts I’d bought were still wrapped and hidden in my closet in Dominic’s room. When Vince or Levin had even hinted at the holiday, I’d teared up and refused to talk. Maybe one day I’d feel like celebrating.

I hadn’t even seen Fallon around past him sitting with the lords. He didn’t try to reach out to me, which had me worried. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t spent the last weeks wondering what went down at the dip after we left.

I stopped in my tracks as I saw Fallon waiting for us in the crook at the end of the alley. I rushed to him, but he backed away from me.

My heart fell to the pit of my stomach.

“Hey,” he greeted me softly.

“Hey.”

“Uh, sorry I haven’t been around. Just been busy.”

I nodded and swallowed. Vincent stood further down the alley, giving us space.

“Listen, Bianca, there’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just going to say it. I’m not in a position right now where being with you is… feasible. I think we should call it.”

“Call it?” I echoed, dread filling my chest.

“Yeah. I don’t want to hurt you, and you’re just going to get hurt. I should have done this sooner, but I’m a fucking coward, so I’ll just do it now. We can’t see each other anymore.”

“You’re breaking up with me.”

He nodded, no emotion on his face. “I am.”