Breaking Free by Cat Grant

Author:Cat Grant [Grant, Cat]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-07-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Jase

Eric wouldn’t tell me what Robert said to him upstairs, but whatever it was had left him pretty shaken up. Even after we got home, he was still upset. “Hey,” I said, laying my hand on his shoulder. “Go crawl in bed and I’ll bring you a cup of that herbal tea you like, okay?”

“’Kay.” Smiling weakly, he started for the bedroom, already yanking his sweater over his head.

When the tea was ready I brought it in the bedroom, and found Eric curled up under the fluffy comforter. “Here you go. I put some extra honey in it.” I sat down on the edge of the bed while he rolled over to take the mug. “You ready to talk about what happened?”

“No,” he said flatly.

“Does that mean you’re not gonna tell me now, or ever?”

“There’s nothing to tell. It was just Robert being Robert. You know he’s never liked me.” He took a sip of his tea, then smiled as he reached for my hand. “But you still like me, don’t you, baby?”

For the past week I’d been doing my best to help ease him through his post-rehab transition, which meant keeping a lid on my feelings. I’d discussed the possibility of a break up with Eric’s doctor at the rehab center. She’d told me to make him no promises, tell him no lies, but be as gentle about it as possible. God knew, another relapse was the last thing I needed on my conscience…

But I couldn’t go on pretending. Leading him on, letting him think he was still part of my life.

“I’ll always care about you, Eric, but… I don’t think we work anymore.”

He looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language, right before realization sank in. “O-oh.” A deep, shuddery breath shook him, the mug tilting in his hand. I grabbed it before he splashed hot tea all over the bed. “Guess I can’t blame you. I mean, I know all your friends wondered what you still saw in me—”

“This has nothing to do with them. I can make my own decisions.”

“And here comes that giant boulder with a big old thud. Thank you, Wile E. Coyote.” Another breath, slow and thready. “When do you want to move out?”

“It doesn’t have to be right away. We can wait until you’re feeling more stable—”

“Oh God, don’t do me any fucking favors!” His face was turning all pink and blotchy, eyes shining with tears he kept blinking back. “Why did you even bother coming home? You must really enjoy ripping my heart out over and over.”

“Th-that’s not…” Fuck. No matter what I did, it ended up being wrong. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just thought you might need help readjusting—”

“Cut the bullshit. You didn’t stay because you still care about me. You did it because you were afraid I’d OD again if you dumped me.”

Didn’t have to be a mind reader to figure that out, but hearing the words stated so baldly still sent a shock through me.

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