The Realest Ever - By Keith Thomas Walker Page 0,47

because I knew you wouldn’t like the truth. But now you know. Fine. What’s the bottom line? Where are you going with this?”

Brianna’s blood boiled. How dare he rush her? But Donovan was right. This was all leading to a final solution, a real ultimatum this time: “Obviously I can’t trust you around Kyra anymore,” Brianna said. “I want you to stop seeing her.”

Donovan didn’t miss a beat. “I can’t do that.”

“What?” Brianna didn’t expect that at all.

“Listen,” Donovan said. He reached into her lap and held her hand. Brianna looked down, expecting him to slide an engagement ring onto her finger. That was about the only thing that could save him at this point.

“I did lie to you,” Donovan said. “But Kyra and I are just friends. I’m not lying about that. I promise you.”

“But I can’t trust you.”

“I know,” Donovan said. He rubbed her hand tenderly. “But the truth is you couldn’t trust me before Kyra moved back down here. That’s why I didn’t want to move in with you. You make me feel crowded, always on guard, like I did something when I know I didn’t. Things spiraled out of control with Kyra in the picture, and that’s when I saw how truly ugly the situation is. That’s when you lost the little bit of control you had over your emotions.”

What the hell? Brianna’s eyes narrowed. Was he trying to turn this shit around?

“The bottom line is this,” Donovan said. “You want to use Kyra as a scapegoat, but I know that your insecurities have nothing to do with her. Even if I stopped being Kyra’s friend, nothing would change. That’s why we have to break up. I care for you, Brianna. But we’re not good for each other. I’m sorry.”

Brianna stared into his eyes, her big, brown orbs widening by degrees. She couldn’t speak right away. She couldn’t breathe, either. Did he break up with her? This was not the solution she had in mind when she came here. This wasn’t even on the radar. Brianna felt her heart rattling in the back of her throat. Her eyes blurred, and she had a tick in the corner of her mouth. The tick grew bigger until it pulled her lips down into a scowl.

Donovan continued to hold her hand as Brianna’s pompous attitude dropped from 100% to negative 150. It hurt him to watch. It was like an abstract artist took her beautiful visage and turned it into something weird and melancholy. Brianna’s eyes began to squirt tears, but Donovan steeled his heart, knowing this would be the last time he ever caused her pain.

“No!” she wailed.

Donovan pulled her hand towards him, and gradually Brianna fell into his arms. She laid her head on his chest and sobbed loudly. Donovan put his arms around her. His hand moved to the back of her head and disappeared into her lovely mane. He rubbed her head tenderly.

“I’m sorry, baby.”

“Please, Donovan.” Brianna’s voice was muffled against his shirt. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. You can still be friends with Kyra.”

Donovan held her tightly. “I’m sorry, Brianna. But there’s no going back this time. We’re not good for each other. We have to break up.”

“Why, so you can be with her?” she wailed.

“Brianna, I know you don’t believe me, but Kyra and I are just friends. We made a mistake when we were kids, and we’ve regretted it ever since. If we tried some mess like that now, it would ruin our friendship.”

“Okay, I believe you, Donovan. Let’s, don’t break up with me.”

“Brianna, are you, would you look at yourself?…”

He took hold of her shoulders and gently pushed her away. Brianna resisted. Being in Donovan’s arms was the best security blanket in the world. But he was stronger than her, and resistance was futile. Brianna kept her face down rather than meet his eyes.

“Brianna, do you not know how beautiful you are?” Donovan asked. “That’s why your behavior is so baffling to me. You got a great career. You’re an independent woman. You got it going on on so many levels.”

She looked up at him tentatively. She wiped her face, knowing she looked a mess.

“You should be with a baller,” Donovan said, “or some rich business owner. Your man should be picking you up in a Lamborghini. I know guys are lining up at your feet. Why are you getting so upset over me? I’m a school teacher. I don’t make a lot of money, and I drive a truck.