15-05-2021-052358It-Ends-with-Us

I purse my lips together and wrap my arm over my chest, grabbing
at my elbow. “Yes. That’s why I didn’t want to go back, Ryle. I didn’t
want to run into him.”
My answer seems to release a little of his tension. He runs a hand
down his face. “Did you tell him what happened last night? Did you
tell him about our fight?”
I take a step forward and shake my head adamantly. “No. He
assumed. He saw my eye and your hand and he just assumed.”
He blows out a laden breath and leans his head back, looking up at
the roof. It looks like it’s almost too painful for him to even ask the
next question.
“Why were you alone with him in the bathroom?”
I take another step forward. “He followed me in there. I know
nothing about him now, Ryle. I didn’t even know he owned that
restaurant, I thought he was just a waiter. He’s not a part of my life
anymore, I swear. He just.. .” I fold my arms together and drop my
voice. “We both grew up in abusive households. He saw my face and
your hand and... he was just worried for me. That’s all it was.”
Ryle brings his hands up and covers his mouth. I can hear the air
rushing through his fingers as he releases his breath. He stands up
straight, allowing himself a moment to soak in all I’ve just said.
“My turn,” he says.
He pushes off the car and takes the three steps toward me that
previously separated us. He puts both hands on my cheeks and looks
me dead in the eyes. “If you don’t want to be with me... please tell
me right now, Lily. Because when I saw you with him... that hurt. I
never want to feel that again. And if it hurts this much now, I’m
terrified to think of what it could do to me a year from now.”
I can feel the tears begin to stream down my cheeks. I place my
hands on top of his and shake my head. “I don’t want anyone else,
Ryle. I only want you.”
He forces the saddest smile I’ve ever seen on a human. He pulls me
to him and holds me there. I wrap my arms around him as tight as I
can as he presses his lips to the side of my head.
“I love you, Lily. God, I love you.”
I squeeze him tight, pressing a kiss to his shoulder. “I love you,
too.”