Chapter 8

After a few days at home, I went back to work.

Roses started appearing on my desk regularly.

Benjamin began staking out my office building after hours.

It wore on me.

When he showed up again one evening, I decided to face him.

I grabbed the day's bouquet and flung it at him.

"What do you want, Benjamin?"

"Don't be mad, Elaine."

"Could you please stop harassing me? It's exhausting. The roses are expensive and I'm allergic."

"You're not allergic to roses."

"I developed it. Recently. Along with an allergy to cheating men."

He flinched. Good.

"Elaine, I made a terrible mistake. But everything before that was real. Eight years—"

"Don't you dare use those eight years. You used them first, as a shield while you slept with someone else."

His jaw clenched. For a moment, I saw something dangerous flash across his face—not anger at me, but at himself.

"I ended it with Chloe."

"Congratulations. Want a medal?"

"I know I don't deserve—"

"You're right. You don't. So stop showing up at my office, stop sending flowers, stop camping outside my parents' house, and stop pretending this is some grand romantic gesture."

"It's not a gesture. I love you."

"You loved me while your hands were on someone else. That's not love, Benjamin. That's greed."

He stepped closer. I stepped back.

"Elaine, I swear on my life—"

"Your life isn't worth much to me right now."

The words hit him like a physical blow. He staggered.

"I'll prove it to you. However long it takes."

"You can start by leaving me alone."

I walked past him to my car. My hands were shaking, but I'd be damned if he saw that.

In the rearview mirror, I watched him stand in the parking lot, roses scattered at his feet, looking like the aftermath of something beautiful and ruined.