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My lungs crushed whatever breath still lingered there.

I numbly reached for the jacket I’d dropped some time the night before.

Too vulnerable, my mind screamed at me.Too weak, too easy to hurt.

I cleared my throat and forced a clear expression onto my face. “What?”

She blinked in confusion, her knees squeezing together like she, too, felt too exposed.

I hated myself for making her feel that way.

“Are you-” she paused, biting her bottom lip and looking for the words she wanted to see. “Are you okay?”

“Fine,” I told her, my breathing erratic and harsh. “Never better.”

I tugged my jacket on, closing it up around myself to give me some semblance of control before I spiraled into nothingness.

Frankie’s lips turned to a frown, a small dent forming between her brows. She blinked once, twice.

Three times.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“No.” I shrugged. “But I don’t want you to think this meant anything special.”

“Nothing. Special.”

I nodded, turning away. I needed to clear the air. Set things straight.

Even if they were twisted and unsalvageable.

All because I couldn’t control myself.

“So, what?” Frankie scoffed, grabbing her dress from the floor and tugging it over her head. I looked away, my focus hinging on the dark red splotches I’d left behind on her breasts. “You practically drag me to your place last night after drinking too much, fall asleep on my lap and then wake up to fuck me; and none of that meansanythingto you?”

I forced a sigh, my heart galloping inside my chest, loud enough that I worried she’d hear it and call me out for my lie.

“I told you right from the get go,” I forced out, walking towards the open plan kitchen. “I’m not interested in love and commitment. I don’t have the patience for it, and I don’t care to waste my energy on it.”

“AndItoldyouthat that was exactly what I was looking for,” she argued, getting to her feet and following me. “And youstillfollowed me around and then you asked me if you could fuck me. Or did you already forget that since it means nothing to you?”

Bile rose in my throat, the guilt and shame suffocating me to the point that I was sure I’d pass out. Because she was right. I’d dragged her here because I’d missed seeing her. After an entire week of avoiding her, I’d just wanted to see her. It wasn’t supposed to escalate into… whatever the fuck this was.

“You knew exactly how I felt before starting this,” I said, trying my best to keep my voice even, emotionless. “I don’t know why you expected anything different.”

No, no, no, no, I thought, panic coiling its icy grip around my lungs and squeezing too tight.

Frankie scoffed again, her dark chuckle void of any amusement, and it stung like salt in an open wound. “Of course,” she said quietly, her shoulders rounded in disappointment. “Why would I be anything special, right? What was I thinking?”

Without another word, she turned on her heel, her bare feet silent on the tiles as she gathered her things and left.

I didn’t move, didn’t make a sound. I just stood there, rooted to the spot and holding onto the counter as if I’d fall if I let go. The front door slammed shut, the hard bang echoing throughout my empty house, and the silence stuffed itself down my throat. I sank to the floor, my chest squeezing tight and stealing the air from my lungs.

She’d never speak to me again. And I was alone… again.

And I couldn’t blame her.

My phone was foreign in my numb fingers, and I could barely see the numbers as I frantically dialed, just needing to hear someone’s voice-