you that it’s over. I ended it. I broke the engagement, if it makes any difference to you.”
“It doesn’t. I don’t care. You’re a piece of shit, and you lied to me.”
“I know I did. It was stupid and wrong and cowardly. I was too afraid of losing you.”
“Well, you did, now go away and leave me alone, or I’ll get a court order against you.”
“Or give me another black eye?” he said, wanting to put his arms around her but there was no way he could. She would have killed him.
“You can have another one of those too, if you want.”
“Can we just talk for a few minutes? I only wanted to tell you how sorry I am. I really mean it.”
“Now you’ve told me, so get lost.” She was wearing her street fighter face and looked at him with disgust.
“Alicia, please…”
“No! You think I’d let you do that to me again? I don’t trust you. Why should I?”
“Because I’m an honest man who made a really stupid mistake and I love you.”
“That is the worst bullshit excuse I’ve ever heard. You’re pathetic and a liar.”
“I’m not lying to you now.”
“Congratulations. What do you want from me?”
“Another chance,” he said, realizing how pathetic he sounded, but he meant it.
“I’m not stupid, Anthony. Why would I do that?”
“Maybe because you loved me too.”
“I did. Past tense. I don’t give second chances. You blew it.”
“And what does that get you? The Toughest Girl of the Year Award? You can kick everyone’s ass? Can’t you be human about this?”
“You weren’t. What you did was disgusting.”
“Yes, it was. It was a shit beginning, but I’m free now. We could do it better this time, if you give me a chance.”
“If you lied to me again, I’d have to kill you. And you’re not worth it.”
“Are you seeing someone else?” He felt sick as he asked her.
“That’s none of your business.” She had been crying over him for over a month, but she would have died rather than tell him, and she liked seeing him standing there next to her front stairs, begging her for forgiveness and another chance. She wasn’t going to give it to him. She had too much self-respect for that, and she was too scared he’d hurt her again. No one had ever hurt her as he had. She had never loved any man as she had him. She had let her guard down, and he had burned her. The last thing she wanted was to give him the opportunity to do it again.
“Can we go for coffee somewhere?”
“No, we can’t. Now get out of my way, I have homework to do.” He couldn’t stand arguing with her anymore and she was winning. He took three long strides toward her, and pulled her into his arms and just held her there. She tried to take a swing at him, but he wouldn’t let her this time. He was ready for her. He didn’t hurt her or even try to kiss her, he just held her as gently but firmly as he could, and he was stronger than she was.
“I’m in love with you. I’ve thought of you every waking moment since you walked away,” he said holding her tightly.
“I was in love with you too. You broke my heart. I’m not giving you another chance to do it again,” she said, struggling to get out of his grip.
“I won’t. I swear.”
“I don’t believe you, and I hate you,” she said, but the fight had gone out of her. He could feel it, and he kissed her, gently at first and then passionately when she responded. They clung to each other like two drowning people, their bodies pressed together. He could feel her heart pounding against him like a bird in a cage, and he moaned just holding her. He had thought of her a million times since they had left each other. Her books were all over the sidewalk, and he picked them up, and handed them back to her, as she stood looking at him with tears in her eyes. She walked up the front steps then, and he followed her, and she didn’t stop him.
They walked to her front door, and she unlocked it with shaking hands, and the moment they were inside, he slammed the door closed with his foot and she was in his arms, and they were pulling each other’s clothes off. She stopped for an instant to look long and hard at