A Joke

Sora

Cameron bows his head, shame written all over his face, but it does nothing to soften the anger clawing at my chest.

I have watched this man apologize with his silence for years. I forgave him every time he chose someone else over me, every forgotten promise, every disappointment. Last year he completely forgot my birthday and somehow made up for it with a freaking cupcake.

A cupcake.

I'd spent an entire year saving up to buy him the branded cufflinks he'd been eyeing, yet all it took was for him to lower his head, wear that guilty expression, and I'd forgive him before he even asked.

Not this time.

I'm done.

Completely and absolutely done.

No more second chances.

He's already used them all.

“I'll move out next week.”

His head jerks up so quickly I'm surprised it doesn't hurt.

“What?”

“You heard me.” I tighten my grip around the clothes in my arms. “I'll find somewhere else to stay.”

“No.” He closes the distance between us in two quick strides, shaking his head before I'd even finished speaking. “You're not leaving.”

A dry laugh escapes me.

“That's not your decision to make.” I meet his gaze without flinching. “Remember what you said? Whoever breaks the rule leaves. Since this is your house, I'll be the one to go.”

“Sora, please...”

“No.” My voice comes out far steadier than I feel, even as my chest threatens to cave in. “You already made your decision, Cameron. Please... respect mine.”

His lips part like he's about to argue again, but no sound comes out. His gaze searches my face desperately, almost frantically, as though he's looking for the version of me that would've caved five minutes ago.

“Give me any punishment you want, but don't leave me, please.”

My heart falls when Cameron drops to his knees, he’s never one to show his remorse. Sure he apologizes but never like this, a quiet chuckle comes from behind me.

Kade.

He's been leaning against the doorway this entire time, watching the argument unfold in complete silence, but that one laugh is enough to make Cameron's jaw tighten.

“And why?” I ask, refusing to take my eyes off Cameron. “So one day you can throw it in my face that I've been living off you? Even though I've helped out every chance I got?”

“Nobody says that.”

I let out another hollow laugh.

“What do you mean nobody says that?” I gesture toward the staircase. “Daisy literally said it just now. Maybe not in those exact words, but she made it painfully clear this is your house and I'm just... existing in it.”

“She didn't mean—”

“I don't care what she meant.”

The words come out sharper than I intended.

“I care about what she said, and I care even more that you stood there and let her say it.”

Cameron's shoulders sag.

“Sora...”

“No.” I shake my head, refusing to let him interrupt. “Do you know what hurt the most?”

My voice cracks despite every effort to keep it steady.

“It was realizing that not once... not once did you correct her and it hit me, you feel the same way too.”

He catches my hand before I can pull away, the force of it almost yanking me to my knees with him.

“Never, Sora.” He looks up at me, desperation written all over his face. “I've never seen you that way. I corrected Daisy several times, but she'd laugh it off and say she was only pulling your leg.”

I snatch my hand free.

“A joke?” I bark out a laugh. “A joke is something we both laugh about, not something that's only funny at my expense.”

I jerk my chin toward Kade.

“Isn't that right?”

Kade pushes himself off the wall, shoving his hands into his pockets.

“No truer words than that, Shadow.”

Cameron's glare snaps toward him before landing back on me.

“She wasn't trying to hurt you.”

“Then she failed spectacularly.”

I clutch the clothes tighter against my chest.

“Every single time she made one of those comments, you stood there and let me question whether you felt the same way, if that was your way of letting me know my time here is up. Do you have any idea how humiliating that feels?”

“I told you, I corrected her.”

“And then what?” I fire back. “You left it there. She kept saying it, you kept dating her, and I kept wondering whether she was saying the things you couldn't.”

“Please stop telling me how to feel.” I point toward the room where she’s still probably in the sheets. “And fun fact, you’ve continuously defended her.”

“She's my fiancée,” he says quietly, rubbing a hand over his face before looking back at me. “I'm trying not to pit both of you against each other.”

He lets out a shaky breath.

“What do I need to do so you don't move out?”

My revolve shatters completely as he kneels there with his pretty icy blue eyes moping up at me, his messy blond hair falls over his forehead making him look more like the boy who used to sneak into my room through the room. 

The man I love with everything in me.

God.

I’m finished for him. Completely finished.

I bite the inside of my cheek, trying to ignore the ache blooming in my chest.

“Anything,” he whispers. “Just tell me.”

I close my eyes for a second.

When I open them again, the words leave my mouth before I can talk myself out of them.

“I'll pay rent.”

Confusion flashes across his face. “What?”

“If I'm staying here...” I swallow around the lump in my throat. “I'll pay rent. Every month.”

His brows knit together so tightly they nearly touch.

“Sora, I'm not taking your money.”

“You will.”

“No.”

“You’re not going to say anything about it.”

I tighten my grip on the clothes in my arms.

“If I'm going to keep living under this roof, I refuse to let anyone—even your fiancée—make me feel like I'm freeloading ever again.”