I end up closing the bakery sooner than I probably should. Oh, the irony! WHY the hell is Emma here now?

SHE was the one who decided to walk out on ME. And now, she's coming HERE, starting World War Three with me?

Poor Olivia. She's upset by this as well. Which, she has every right to be. We just started getting along and dating.

And now, well, she probably thinks that I WANT to get back together with Emma. I don't. Not after the shit she pulled. Walking out, not giving any plausible excuse as to WHY we were through.

Zane and Luke come over and I tell them what happened. They're supportive, but I get this feeling that they think that I WANTED Emma to come back.

"What pissed me off the most is that she ends up going to see Olivia first. Geez, I'd think she was psychic."

"Maybe she is," Zane suggests. I flip him off. I know. That's uncalled for. But I'm really pissed off.

"I wouldn't worry about it," Luke says. "I'm sure that Emma will give up after a while and go crawl back under her rock."

"You two are NOT being very helpful." I bend my head over, running my hand over my hair.

"Come on, man," Luke says. "Olivia knows you're not going to just dump her all because your crazy ex arrives, out of the blue. Besides, you know damn well that Emma's only doing this to bait you into some dumb war. Don't fall for it."

"Yeah. Look, I don't want to sound like an asshole, but I need some time alone."

"Sure thing, man." You know how to find us."

"Hang in there," Zane adds, as he follows Luke out.

"Thanks." I walk over to the couch, plopping down on it and closing my eyes.

What a shit show. Just when I think I'm good, the past comes back to bite me in the ass.

>>>>>>

Olivia comes over later. We don't talk much. She mostly just holds me, switching between stroking my hair and rubbing my back.

"I'm sorry I'm in such a crappy mood," I apologize. Olivia kisses my cheek and I smile.

"You don't need to apologize, Eli. You didn't do anything wrong."

"I know. I just feel as though I have."

"Hey, it's not like you wanted her to show up and ruin everything." I sigh.

"No. I..I just don't understand why she's here."

"Did you ask her?"

"Of course! She says she wants me back. Which is not happening."

"I don't want to be overly nosy, but why were you two yelling at each other?"

"I told her to get lost. Then she started accusing me of not caring about her feelings. Of course, I don't care about her damn feelings! I stopped caring after she left!"

"Sounds like she's just trying to guilt you back into the relationship."

"Yeah." I abruptly move and stand up. "Can we talk about something else?"

"Sure. What do you wanna talk about?"

"Us." Olivia frowns.

"In what way?"

"Marry me." Olivia's eyebrows nearly shoot off her face.

"Eli, we've only been dating for a month." Her face contorts. "Are you USING me to get back at your ex?"

"No! I'd never do that!" But even as I'm saying the words, I KNOW I probably am.

And that's just screwed up.

"Okay. Maybe a little. BUT I do care about you, Livvy. I want to be with you."

Olivia stands up and heads for the door. She doesn't even look at me when she speaks. That's how I know I've went too far.

"We don't HAVE to be married, Eli, to care about each other OR even get married."

She pauses and when she opens her mouth again, I KNOW I hurt her.

"I need some time alone. I hope you can respect that."

"Yeah. Olivia, I'm sorry."

"Me too." She leaves, taking what's left of my broken heart with her.

"Strike three, Mason," I scold myself. "You're out."

Chapter 10-Eli

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