Chapter 4His Luck Ran Out

Perhaps realizing he sounded a bit like a freeloader, Ryan started trying to defend himself.

“It’s not like I never gave you anything. And I paid for most of our dates, and I sent you money on holidays.”

He sighed, trying to sound reasonable. “Paige, a relationship is supposed to be about mutual affection. It gets ugly when you start keeping score.”

Ugly was one word for it.

The truth was, I paid for most of our dates. The few times he paid were for small things, like fruit from a stand or a couple of milk teas. As for the holiday money, he’d Venmo me $52, and I’d send him $520.

In this relationship, my investment, both emotionally and financially, dwarfed his. I had no idea how he could stand there and accuse me of taking advantage of him.

Whatever. Arguing with a scumbag was a waste of time. I’d just have to chalk it up to a bad investment of my heart.

Since I was the one who pursued him, I would be the one to end it.

“You’re right. It has gotten ugly,” I said calmly. “Ryan, we’re done.”

I grabbed my purse and turned to leave.

Tessa blocked my path. “Leave the jar. Ryan promised I could take it home and worship it.” She smirked. “And that necklace he gave you? Leave that too.”

“Please move,” I said, my voice low.

She didn’t budge. I stepped to the left; she mirrored me. I stepped to the right; she blocked me again.

I stopped, took a deep breath, and slapped her across the face.

Caught completely off guard, Tessa stumbled sideways, knocking into the table. As she was about to fall, Ryan lunged forward to play hero. She collapsed dramatically into his arms.

The next second, Ryan’s hand flew up and he slapped me back.

My face stung, the force of it bringing tears to my eyes. But I ignored the pain. I drew my leg back and kicked him, hard, in the shin. He yelped and buckled, pulling Tessa down with him.

He must have tried to cushion her fall, but by some strange twist of fate, as they tumbled to the ground, their mouths crashed together in a clumsy, disgusting kiss.

The scene was both ridiculous and nauseating.

People always say the "girl best friend" is just an excuse to have a backup on the sidelines. I never believed it, because Ryan always said, “We’ve known each other since middle school. If something was going to happen, it would have happened by now.”

Now, I had no choice but to believe it. The air between them had been thick with unspoken things for a long time.

A surge of impulse shot through me.

I took two steps forward and gave Ryan another kick for good measure.

You want to kiss? Go on, then. Kiss all you want.