Chapter 4

Suddenly, I realized Griffin wanted me gone.

I pulled out the last tissue from the box, feeling a bit gloomy. "Just drop me off here. I'll get a cab home myself."

Griffin replied, "Okay."

I grabbed my backpack and reached for the door handle, but the door wouldn't budge.

I glanced over at Griffin.

He blinked and said slowly, "Well, it doesn't seem easy to get a cab around here. How about I just drive you home? Where do you live?"

I felt a little embarrassed about how I'd acted just now.

After I told him my address, it got really quiet in the car.

Griffin drove me home.

After I got out, I saw him pick up a call and shoot me a quick glance.

Forcing my swollen, red eyes wide open, I asked, "Is that jerk Dennis calling you?"

He nodded silently.

"Give me the phone. I'll talk to him," I said.

Griffin obediently handed me the phone.

When I put it to my ear, I could hear Dennis yelling, "Griffin, you little punk—"

"Dennis, you scumbag, listen up," I cut him off.

He went silent on the other end.

Before I could say anything, he snapped again, his voice full of rage, "Blair, you've really got some nerve. You actually hung up on me and blocked me everywhere online."

I gritted my teeth and shot back, "Why wouldn't I? You cheating bastard. Don't ever show your face in front of me again."

He gushed, "Blair, who's the real cheater here, huh? I bet it's you. Griffin just started university. He's barely eighteen. How could you go after him? Seriously, do you even have a shred of decency left?"

It was unbelievable. He was still trying to pin everything on me.

I yelled, unable to hold back my anger, "Then what about the lipstick smear on your neck? Care to explain that?"

"Wh—" He suddenly went quiet.

I knew I was right about him cheating. My rage rose, even as the tears continued.

When he heard my sobs, Dennis's tone changed, sounding softer. "Alright, so you're throwing a fit over this? It's nothing, really. You're so petty."

Even now, this bastard had the audacity to flip the script and call me petty.

Right then, anger wiped out my heartbreak. That tiny spark inside me erupted into a wildfire.

I retorted, "If I showed up with lipstick smears from some other man on my neck, would you just forgive me and let it slide?"

His voice went ice-cold. "Blair, I'm trying to talk to you nicely, but you just have to make a fuss, don't you?"

How typical of Dennis. He could mess around all he wanted, but the second I did anything, he totally flipped out.

Honestly, he was so ridiculous I almost burst out laughing.

I wiped my tears away with a shaky hand. I said mockingly, "Look at you. If you really didn't care about it, why are you freaking out right now?

"So it's fine for you to fool around with other women, but the moment I even get close to another guy, you totally lose it.

"Dennis, you shameless piece of shit. I must've been out of my mind to ever fall for a hypocritical beast like you.

"From now on, we're done for good. Hope you can't get it up ever again, you scumbag."

Dennis's temper was flaring up fast.

He snapped, his tone harsh, "Blair, I'm trying to make this easy for you, but you just have to stir up drama. You really don't know when to quit.

"Fine, we're done. Whoever regrets it first is a total loser. I'll be waiting for you to come crawling back, begging for forgiveness.

"Give it three days and you'll be dying to take it all back."

"I only regret not seeing through your player act sooner, you scumbag," I retorted.

With that, I hung up.

I handed the phone back to Griffin. "Sorry you had to witness that mess," I muttered.

Griffin just shook his head and took the phone.

I watched his car drive away, fading into the distance.

Left all alone, I curled up under the tree, covering my face as I cried my heart out.

I'd dated Dennis for four years. Even if I said it didn't matter, it still hurt a lot.

I cried so much my head was splitting, and the more I thought about it, the worse I felt.

I couldn't bring myself to go home. I didn't want my parents to see me like this and start worrying.

So I ended up spending the whole night alone on the swing in the playground, just sitting there shivering in the cold wind, my head pounding.

By the next morning, I was running a fever.

I went to the hospital alone.

While I was there, my fever suddenly got worse. I ended up staying at the hospital for a whole day and night.

Love life? Total disaster. Guess that means my work life should be awesome, huh?

But then my mom called with news that hit like a bolt from the blue.

I froze, my head buzzing.