Everlasting Bonds - COMPLETE

Chapter 43

POV: Aidan

My palms were sweating as I raised my hand to knock on Liz's door.

I had tossed and turned all night, and before I knew it the sun had started creeping into my room. I texted Liz at 5 am and asked if I could come over. She was usually up early to do her morning yoga, but I was still surprised at how quickly she responded.

"Of course", she had said. "You know you are welcome anytime", she had said.

It was that cheeriness that sat in my stomach like a piece of bad steak. Liz didn't deserve this, but I couldn't keep leading her on.

When the door finally opened, I was greeted by the smell of green tea.

Fuck me.

"Morning! I made your favorite. Green tea with honey and a little mint".

I was such an asshole.

I gave her an appreciative kiss on the cheek as I took my shoes off and made my way into her living room.

I had been here countless times and yet at this moment, I felt like I was walking into a stranger's house. I was suddenly aware of every piece of furniture and my body in relation to it. I was scared to break something.

Liz took my hand as we sat down on the couch and gave it a friendly squeeze. I knew this was going to be hard but I didn't think it would be this hard.

"So, I was thinking for your fight next weekend I would invite a couple more of my friends. Can you get two more tickets for me?"

Internally I sighed and did my best to keep the annoyance off my face. "Liz, I can't get you any more tickets. You know I only have a limited amount and none of the guys get to invite their friends because you ask for the extras each time".

She laughed, a tinkling sound that used to turn me on. "What friends? You guys only hang out with each other anyway". I knew she meant that as a joke but it still grated on my nerves a little.

We had a few arguments in the past about the guys. She didn't understand that they were my family and felt like they were too involved in my life. I disagreed.

Taking a deep breath, I let go of her hand and turned to face her head-on. "I need to talk to you about something".

She cocked her head, but her face didn't give away any emotion.

"I have really enjoyed being with you this past year. You are funny and kind and you make me laugh a lot. I just have realized that I don't think this relationship is right for me anymore, and it's not fair to keep stringing you along".

She flinched back from me, and her eyes began to well with tears. Tears she was trying very hard to hold back.

"You- You want to break up with me? You are breaking up with me right now?"

I was about to answer when she cut me off suddenly. "But why? Aidan I don't understand this I thought everything was good between us. You know that I love you, don't you?". The tears spilled over and now ran freely down her face.

I scrubbed both hands down my face before speaking again. "Liz, I'm so sorry. I do know that. I've also never said that back to you because it wouldn't have been the truth. You haven't done anything wrong, everything was fine. This just isn't right for me anymore". I tried to reach out and take her hand, but she shifted away from me. We were now on the opposite ends of the couch, both of our drinks long forgotten.

"It's that girl isn't it. The one that was in your apartment a couple of months ago". She looked me straight in the eyes as she asked.

Lying to her didn't feel right. "Yes".

She nodded slowly, almost mechanically. "Did you cheat on me?", she asked. Her voice quiet but strong.

Again, I didn't know how to answer and thought back to what Luka had said to me in the bathroom of the club. "No, I didn't cheat on you. I knew that I wanted to be with her a while ago though and I should have ended things with you then".

She tucked her legs underneath her body and put her head in her hands. I had never seen her look so small.

"I knew it", she said. Her voice was muffled. "You looked at her in a way that you have never looked at me".

"I'm sorry, Liz. I wish I had something else to say to you, but I just don't and I'm sorry about that too".

She took her head out of her hands and faced me. "Please get out".

Then she got up off the couch and walked to her bedroom down the hall. I'm sure both her upstairs and downstairs neighbors felt the impact of the door as she slammed it.

"Fuck".

Not wanting to linger in her home any longer I got up and left, making my way to the elevator that was just down the hall.

When I walked out onto the street it was busy. Full of people who had no idea that I just fucked over my ex-girlfriend.

I craned my neck towards the sky and closed my eyes. Hoping the sun would wash away my remaining guilt.

It didn't.

It did shine a light on a different feeling though. One of relief