“We can work this out—”

“Work this out!” I shrieked, charging forward. “Are you fucking crazy? I am done with you!”

To further prove my point I pried off my engagement ring, throwing it at his head. He tried to catch it, dropping the sheet from around his waist in the process.

“You disgust me,” I spat through clenched teeth.

He hurried to grab the sheet to cover himself once more, as if I might charge forward and make good on my previous threat.

He opened his mouth to speak, but I stopped him.

“I swear to God, if you say my name one more fucking time I will cut off your tongue too!”

“Don’t worry, babe,” the slut from my bed strolled down the hall, dressed only in skimpy lingerie, “I called the police and I recorded everything she said on my phone.”

I gulped, suddenly not feeling so bold.

The evil glint in her eye told me I was in trouble.

She leveled me with a smirk. “I’m a lawyer,” she said the words slowly like I was too dumb to process them, “and this,” she waved her phone around, “is enough to get you arrested.”

Oh, fuck.

I steeled my shoulders, refusing to let the bitch know her words had gotten to me.

Braden glanced from her to me, not saying a word.

Two years together and the asshole couldn’t even come to my defense and tell the bitch that I hadn’t really meant anything by it. Heat of the moment and all that jazz.

Nope, he just stood there blinking like it was the only thing he was capable of doing.

My teeth gnashed together and I dropped the knife on the floor. I wanted to launch myself at the bitch with my claws out, but she’d already won.

Although, that was laughable, because apparently the prize was Braden and I could see now that he was hardly worth bragging rights.

She could have him.

And I would laugh when he cheated on her.

Because he would.

Men like him didn’t change.

I turned to Braden, my shoulders slumping with exhaustion. I’d been so wound up and now the air had left my sails. I was just…done. I wasn’t going to waste another breath yelling at him. Nothing I said would penetrate its way through his thick skull the way he penetrated his mistress. He definitely wasn’t worth it either. I’d been crazy to ever think he was the guy for me.

Sirens sounded outside the apartment building.

“I’ll go let them in.” The tramp smiled.

“Shouldn’t you go put some clothes on,” I snapped.

She looked down. “Oh, right.”

She disappeared back into the bedroom while Braden and I stood staring at each other. When she returned she was wearing my ripped shorts and my lavender tank top.

The calm defeat I’d felt a moment before instantly disappeared.

How dare she wear my clothes.

I screamed again, charging forward, and grabbed the bitch’s hair before Braden could stop me.

That’s when the cops knocked on the door.

From there, things escalated.

I scratched her.

She hit me.

I hit back.

She pulled my hair.

I bit her.

And then I got arrested.

Today was not my day.

I SAT ON the cold metal bench inside the holding cell, contemplating my life choices.

I wondered what shitty decision led me to this moment.

Was it when I attacked the bitch?

Or grabbed the knife?

Or when I first started dating Braden?

I was betting on the latter.

From the first moment I met him he screwed with my life and I let him, because I’d been dumb. There was no other explanation. I’d been so desperate to love someone that I’d tricked myself into thinking he was better than he was.

I kept going over and over in my head different things he’d said and done, and wondered why I’d always swept his behavior under the rug.

When did I become this girl that turned a blind eye?

I’d always spoken my mind, but with Braden I let him speak for me.

I put my head in my hands, letting out a small groan.

I wasn’t going to be that girl anymore. I was going to get my fire back and conquer the world.

Well, as soon as I got out of this jail cell.

Footsteps sounded on the concrete floors and I stood up, praying that they were coming to let me out.

A moment later a figure appeared.

He was tall and thin. He kept his head ducked down and his unruly black hair hid his face.

Slowly, he lifted his head to face me. His dark eyes were hidden behind a pair of round glasses and his cheeks and chin were covered in scruff like he hadn’t shaved in a week or more.

My breath caught on an embarrassing gasp.

It’d been six months since I’d seen him and he still took my breath away—not that I would ever tell him that.

Once upon a time I’d had a crush on Ezra Collins, but soon his friendship became too important to me to ever cross that line.

He tilted his head to the side, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

“I thought I’d never hear from you again.” His eyes bore into me, hurt lacing his words. Chuckling, he added, “Let me tell you, I was quite surprised to answer the phone and hear your voice. Jail? Really, Sadie? What is it with you and Emma getting arrested?”

I lifted a finger. “That wasn’t her fault.” I reminded him. “This…” My lower lip began to tremble with the threat of tears. “This is all me.”

And that was the sad truth.

“What exactly happened?” He asked.

I stepped forward, wrapping my hands around the metal bars. “Do you think you can get me out of here first and then we can chat?”

“Oh, right.” He shook his head, pushing his too long hair out of his eyes. He cracked a small half smile. “They didn’t want to let me back here, but I had to see this for myself.”

I sighed, sitting back down on the bench with my hands splayed on my legs. “I’m glad you find this amusing, Ezra.”

He shook his head, his eyes growing serious once more. “I’m sorry.”

I flinched. I’d told him when I called that I caught Braden cheating on me.

“Why?” I found myself asking. “You hated him.”

“But I love you.” He paled, lifting his hands in surrender. “Not like that,” he added. “You’re my best friend, Sadie. I might’ve hated the asshole, but I still wanted you to be happy. This was the last thing I wanted to happen to you.”

“But you knew it would,” I whispered, looking away from him and staring at the cinderblock cell wall instead, “you warned me and I didn’t fucking listen.”

“You were in love.” He defended my actions.

I turned back towards him. “Was I?” I retorted. “Because I don’t know anymore.”

My shoulders sagged with my words. I didn’t think there had ever been a time in my life when I felt this defeated.

He frowned, his mouth twisting as he struggled with something to say. Finally he muttered, “I better go take care of this.”

“Yeah, that would be great,” I sighed. “I mean, this bench is nice and all, but I don’t really want to sleep here.”

He shook his head and walked back down the hall.

I felt bad that after six months with no communication this was what I called him for, but I knew I could count on him to bail me out.

My parent’s would have too, but frankly I wasn’t ready to tell them all the gory details.

Plus, my dad might kill Braden when I told him.

I knew Ezra would keep his cool, even if he probably did dream about maiming my ex-fiance.

In fact, the last time I saw Ezra he punched Braden in the face.

Now, I wished I could go back and give Ezra a round of applause for that one.

It took a while, but eventually they released me.

Neither of us spoke as we walked out of the building. Ezra guided me through the parking lot and to his shiny black Cadillac Escalade.

As soon as we were both seated in the car I broke down in tears.