When You Were My Home

I tightened my grip on the earbud cord and stared at Dylan Ladner in the dim light of his phone. He was always so cold and composed, but now his ears were flushed, and his eyes were still heavy with desire.

He looked at me and smiled, almost as if he were relieved. "Two years, and you finally figured it out. Maybe this is for the best. I'm tired of waiting for you to fall asleep every night before I can call her."

Then he held the phone to my ear. "Say hi to your sister."

Julia Farwell's laughter came through the phone. "Hey, Ruth! Did you know Dylan and I bet every night on when you'd finally figure us out?

"I kept losing, and every time I did, Dylan made me wear black stockings for him. But tonight, I finally won! So tell me, Ruth. How should I punish him?"

Her delighted laughter cut right through me.

Tears streamed down my face as I flung the cord at Dylan, my throat so tight I could barely get the words out. "How could you do this to me, Dylan?"

He grabbed my wrist, his voice turning cold. "Stop making a scene, Ruth. We only talk online. Nothing has ever happened between us."

Julia's voice came through the phone again. "Dylan's right. We're just online chat buddies! Whenever I get him worked up, he comes to you to finish what I started."

The way she said it so casually killed the last bit of hope I'd been holding on to.

For two years, Dylan had whispered sweet things in my ear night after night. Sometimes, when he got worked up, he'd pull me close and take things further.

I thought I'd finally gotten through to him. I thought he'd finally softened toward me. But I had it all wrong.

Julia was the one getting him worked up. She was stuck on the other side of a screen, and whenever she left him wanting more, he came to me instead.

I shoved him away, my voice shaking. "Dylan, I'm breaking up with you."

His grip tightened around my wrist. A second later, he let go like it didn't matter. "Fine. Then you can sleep alone tonight."

There it was again, his usual threat.

He knew I couldn't stand sleeping alone, and whenever we fought, he used that against me. And as pathetic as it was, I always gave in. I'd go back to him and beg him to forgive me.

No sooner had Dylan finished speaking than rain started pounding against the windows, followed by a deafening crack of thunder. Still shaken from the nightmare, I jumped at the sound and burrowed under the covers.

Dylan reached for me without thinking, but Julia's voice stopped him. "Dylan, I'm scared. Will you come stay with me? You know I live nearby. I don't want to keep talking through a screen anymore."

I used to reach for Dylan whenever I was scared too. But this time, I bit my lip and forced myself not to.

Dylan looked at me, huddled silently under the covers, and suddenly seemed annoyed. He pulled his hand back, got out of bed, and started getting dressed.

Our dog, Teddy, paced anxiously in circles beside the bed, then poked his head under the covers.

"Teddy…"

I was just reaching for him when Dylan took his leash and led him away.

Before he left, he tossed one last cruel remark at me. "We're broken up. I bought Teddy, so I'm taking him with me."