“Just a few minutes.”
I don’t know if I believe her or not, but I don’t question it, stepping into the elevator after her. There are only two condos in this building, mine and one that’s being remodeled by the owners. Ninety percent of the time I’m the only person in the entire building. She opens my door, knowing I keep it unlocked and I follow after her, dropping my phone and wallet on the shelf in the hall I walk to the couch, slowly settling into the fabric.
Laney drops in front of me, untying my boots and I frown at her attempting to sit up. “You don’t have to do that, Laney Girl.”
She waves me back, pulling them from my feet. “I want to.”
I can see she’s still fighting tears, eyes shining in the low light coming through the bay windows. She flicked on the kitchen light when she came in, but none of the other lights. “Talk to me Laney.”
She sets my boots off to the side, slowly moving to sit between my legs, resting her cheek on my knee. I feel her swallow against my leg and reach out, running my fingers along her cheek, waiting for her to speak.
“I think we should spend some time… apart.” She’s forcing the words out, her chin quivering as she tries not to let her tears fall.
“What do you mean Laney?” I know what she means. I just want it to mean something else. My body is fucking killing me and I don’t know if I can handle that kind of pain right now on top of it.
“Just… “ She moves her face from my knee to look straight at me. “I’m with Donatello and I can’t also be with you. I think it’d be best for the both of us if we spent some time apart.”
My heart is banging in my chest, lungs burning as I try to keep my breathing in check. “Don’t be with Donatello.”
She sucks her lips between her teeth, eyes dropping from my face and onto my hands. “I can’t do that.”
“You can’t, Delaney? What does that even mean.” I’m trying not to yell, but I can feel the panic rising in my chest, knowing I’m about to lose her.
“I love Donatello and it’s not fair for me to be with you also.”
I grab her chin, forcing her to look at me, the tears falling down her cheeks pausing the angry words I was about to say. My sweet girl should never cry because of me. “I love you, Laney Girl. Leave him and be with me instead.”
She starts shaking her head no, breaking my hold on her chin. “What do you mean no? I love you.”
“You can’t love me.” She pulls away from me, and I start to follow her, but the sharp stabbing in my side stops me, making me wince as I sit back into the pillows.
“What the fuck do you mean I can’t love you?” I close my eyes, trying to keep my anger from her.
“You just can’t love me!” She’s wiping her cheeks, chest shaking as she tries to breathe.
“Laney Girl, that’s not how this works. I’m not just going to stop loving you because you tell me I can’t.” It hurts to even say it, the realization that I’m truly about to lose her settling in my bones like pins and needles.
She’s standing across the room, crying into her elbow as she tries to calm herself, eyes pinched shut from me.
I force myself up, clenching my jaw until I’m up on my feet. Walking to her I grab the back of her head, pulling her into my chest. “What are you doing, Laney Girl? Why are you shutting me out? Let me in.”
Every sob that leaves her chest stabs directly into mine. “I can’t.”
I press my lips to the top of her head, breathing in her coconut scent as I try to get a hold of the situation that’s spiraling downward at an increasing rate. “I don’t know what that means.”
She carefully pushes from me, sniffling as she wipes the tears from her chin. “I love you, Jessie.” My heart bangs at her words, singing in my chest at finally hearing what we’ve been wanting for so long, but why is she crying about it? She blinks and more tears spill out the edges. “But I can’t be with you.”
I try to step toward her and stop, my ribs tweaking with my sudden movement. My heart has climbed into my throat, a hard lump I’m choking back down. “Why not?”
The next words from her mouth shatter like glass, slicing along in all directions to slash at my heart and lodge into my lungs. Tiny fragments digging so deep they’re impossible to dislodge. “I don’t want to be with you. I want to be with Donatello.”
I don’t want to believe her, if she truly felt that way why would she be sobbing over every word. I try to walk toward her again, but she backs away.
“Please respect my wishes to take some time apart. Maybe we can be friends again in the future.” The last word is practically a sob as she turns and runs out the door, the loud slamming echoing in my ears.
I can barely feel the pain in my ribs anymore, the ache in my heart like poison pumping through my limbs, venom collecting in my gut forcing me to sit down or hurl. I drop to the floor where I stand, rubbing a hand over my mouth. Pulling my hand away, I look at the tear drop that landed on the back of it. I didn’t shed a single tear while having my ribs kicked in, but that’s nothing compared to losing my girl.
Grabbing my jacket off the back of the stool sitting next to me, I pull out a cigarette and lighter. I
