Series Starter Firsts in Series Collection - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,223

up to the rumor mill running rampant.

Tonight, well, let’s just say, lesson learned.

“Logan, are you even listening to me?” he asks.

“Actually, no, I’m not. I’m tired of listening to your bullshit. I’m done. Don’t come back to me when you’re finished with whatever her name is. I won’t be waiting around for you.”

His mouth hangs open in shock. Like my refusal to understand is coming out of left field. I guess it is, considering I’ve let him walk all over me for years.

Not this time.

“Logan, come on, don’t be like that. There’s no one else. I just need some time, you know? You know I get spooked and need to regroup,” he tries to convince me.

“Spooked? Seriously, Daniel? You’ve pulled the wool over my eyes long enough. I heard her. I heard your little fling telling her friends how you promised her tonight was the night. As far as I’m concerned, she can have you.” I head toward the door of his apartment.

“Come on, don’t be like that. She means nothing to me,” he confesses.

Laughter bubbles out of me. I can’t believe I let this happen all this time. “Apparently, neither do I. I want more, Daniel. I deserve more. That’s obviously not going to happen with you, so I wish you and whatever her name is the best of luck.” Funny thing is, I mean every word.

I cared about him, loved him even in the beginning. Over time, with his span of many ‘need a break’ episodes that love faded. It took hearing it with my own ears to realize it. I’m no longer in love with Daniel, but remain in love with the thought of him. I wanted the white picket fence and two-point-five kids. I wanted the fairy tale; too bad I now realize they no longer exist.

It’s time to put me first. Today starts a new chapter of my life. I’m going to focus on my career. I busted my ass to get through college to make a good life for myself, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

Starting now.

“Logan, you know what we have is special,” he coos. Yeah, he’s really laying it on thick this time.

“No, you’re wrong. I was never special to you. From the first time you needed a break, the first time you stuck your fucking dick into someone else, anything special that could have been was ruined.” It’s with those words that I realize I need to get tested. I always insisted on him using a condom, even though I’m on birth control, but nothing is 100 percent effective. Happy freaking graduation to me. I get to climb on the table and spread them while confessing to my gynecologist that, yes, I know my checkup was only three months ago, but my cheating scum of a boyfriend can’t keep it in his pants. Just the conversation every woman longs to have.

Fuck my life.

“Come on, we can figure this out,” he pleads.

“I’m done! It’s over. Have a nice life.” I don’t want to be around him another second. The hot burn of tears, are threatening to fall. I blink rapidly to prevent it. He’s not worth it.

Just as I turn the handle to his apartment door, he appears beside me. “Logan, three years. You’re just going to throw it all away?”

Un-fucking-believable.

“Me? YOU. DID. THIS!” I roar. “You, Daniel. Not me. I’m done playing your games. It’s over, now let me go.”

This time, he doesn’t stop me as I pull open the door and rush down the hallway. I look over my shoulder as I wait for the elevator and see him standing in the middle of the hall, just watching me. The only emotion I see is shock. He really thought I would never figure it out. We talked about marriage in a year or so; what would he have done then?

Gah! I’m such an idiot.

The elevator door slides open. I quickly move inside, hitting the button for the parking lot level and the close door button. The sooner I can no longer see him, the better.

I climb in my little Nissan Sentra, which has by far seen better days, and head toward home. Digging my cell out of my purse, I hit Stacy’s name on my favorites list, and put the phone to my ear.

“Hey, girlie, you guys on your way here?” she asks. I was supposed to be picking Daniel up and then we were meeting Stacy back at our apartment. Our parents, Stacy’s and mine, had put