Chapter 3

My shift at the coffee shop dragged on until ten, and by then, the night had swallowed everything up.

I switched off the lights and spotted Edward across the street.

Edward's voice cut through the night. "Get in the car."

I refused to budge, standing my ground.

Edward frowned, weariness clear in his voice.

"Dawn, be good. Don't make me unhappy," he told me.

During those three years, I shamelessly relied on Edward's affection and did all sorts of things just to piss him off.

Every time, he'd yank me hard, rougher than he ever was before.

The next day, my knees would always end up black and blue.

Up against his absolute strength, any resistance felt completely meaningless.

I walked around the front of the car and got in with practiced ease.

The car was filled with the scent Edward always loved, and to my surprise, there was a pack of my favorite gum in the glove compartment.

Edward's well-defined fingers wrapped around mine, his touch scorching hot.

"Dawn, come back to me, okay?" he asked.

I turned my head, just like I did on that last night three years ago, and asked him, refusing to back down, "Edward, what are we to each other?"

Relationship gurus online claimed it was the question women should never ask a guy.

If he were into a girl, he would be dying to make it official before she even brought it up.

If he were not, asking wouldn't change a thing.

Edward rubbed his temples, dodging the question like always.

"Dawn, can't we just be like we used to?" he asked.

He offered, "If you want to go to school, I can get you into the Bayport University. I'll get you an apartment so you and your mom can live together.

"You won't have to worry about anything. Whatever you want to do, I'll have your back."

From the speakers came one of those old pop songs I used to love listening to.

Ethan was singing with deep emotion.

Edward was always so perfect, always so thoughtful.

He'd mapped out my whole life and future for me.

Yet love was the one thing he refused to give.

I couldn't claim him for myself, no matter how much I wished I could.

I couldn't help but let a couple of tears slip out, feeling weak, then threw my head back and laughed right there in the passenger seat.

"Is that what you want, Edward? To keep me as your pet?" I asked.

Edward rubbed the ring on his thumb, falling silent for a long time.

"Dawn, you know," he said quietly. "With a family like mine, I never really get to choose who I love."

"All I want is for us to go back to how things used to be," he added.

How things used to be?

Back then, I was broke and went out of my way to make Edward happy.

I hand-knitted sweaters and scarves for him.

I spent entire afternoons simmering soup just for him.

Whenever he called, I'd drop everything and come running.

He treated me pretty well, too.

During those three years, he helped me out in all sorts of ways.

For a while, I really thought we were an actual couple.

But now I realized that he never actually promised me anything.

It was all just wishful thinking on my part.

To put it bluntly, it was just an exchange, benefits for desire.

I took a deep breath, smiled, and started to speak. "Edward, honestly, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me these past three years.

"If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't be able to go back to school and focus on my studies."

I continued, "I might've ended up doing things I never wanted just for the money, and I could've turned into someone I don't even recognize anymore.

"So, Edward, thank you. Thank you for always sending me huge bouquets of roses on holidays, and for taking me up to the mountains to watch the stars all night.

"Thank you for lighting up half of Royal Bay with fireworks just to make me smile. And thank you for finding a doctor for my mom, and for always listening to me when I was feeling down."

I poured my heart out, telling him all the little moments that made me fall for Edward, one step at a time, over these past three years.

He was always doing things for me, always going out of his way to be good to me.

Even now, when I looked back, it all still felt so sweet and romantic.

Some people just weren't made for love.

And we were never meant to last.

Tears threatened to drown me.

Choked up, I stared at Edward and closed my eyes.

"So, Edward, I can't do it," I said.

I had feelings.

I couldn't be his pet.

I couldn't bring myself to push the man I loved into someone else's arms and just stand by, watching him love another.