Page 47 of Covet (The Red #3)

Chapter Forty-Seven

Daisy

Listen to The Grudge

by Olivia Rodrigo

I knew what Noah was going to say the moment I sat down.

A part of me wondered if I should jump up and run away so I could delay the truth.

I’d done it before. I liked to put a happy shine on things in life.

It was so much easier to think positively; to be kind rather than mean.

It was those same qualities that made me a good nurse.

Besides being cheerful, I believed in hope.

Hope for happiness and goodness to win over the bad.

Today, I’d lost the battle.

Noah was breaking up with me because he was in love with Elle.

I thought my plan had worked. I knew if Noah caught Elle and Coop having sex together, it would finally wipe out his puppy dog longing for her.

It had been easy. Just a few whispered suggestions to Coop that Elle wanted to meet him in the bathroom, and soon he was racing after her.

I’d timed our conversation and took advantage of Coop’s drunkenness.

I hated watching the shock and pain on Noah’s face when he found out. A tiny part of myself hoped he wouldn’t care, and prove they weren’t as serious as I imagined. Instead, I discovered it was much worse. He was in love with her.

And Elle’s whisper plea not to leave?

I’d shook with rage and grief at the heartfelt words. It had taken everything to pretend nothing was wrong and leave with Noah.

Agony cut through me like knives, slicing and dicing like one of those horror movies I hated to even catch previews of. Noah was staring at me with serious eyes, his skin pale like he was fighting a virus. I was glad it was hard for him. I deserved that.

Motherfucker.

“Daisy, this is the hardest conversation I’ve ever had. I don’t know how to even start, but I have to tell you something. Something that will hurt you, and the thought of it makes me sick.”

Nice intro. I hoped he didn’t search AI for the right words. That would be another betrayal. I dragged in a shuddering breath, trying to calm my rising panic at the idea of losing him. The man I’d given my heart, body and soul to. “You’re breaking up with me.”

Shock carved out the lines of his face. “How—how did you know? God, I’m so sorry. So sorry after we agreed to move in together and I said?—”

“That you loved me?” Bitterness edged my voice. “Yeah, that sucks. You literally waited all these months to tell me, and once you do, you want to break up. Why, Noah? I deserve to know. We’re so good together. We can have such a happy life.”

“I didn’t plan any of this to happen but I’ve—I’ve fallen for someone else. Someone you know. Someone who’s been fighting her feelings just as hard as me.”

“Tell me.”

I knew but he deserved to go through his paces. It was the least I could get out of this nightmare.

“Elle.” Shame flushed his skin and regret burned in his eyes. But not enough to step back from the abyss and his cheating ass. “It’s Elle.”

“Right. Of course.” I sat silent, trying to get enough sanity together to get through the rest of this conversation. “And this just happened while you were working on the songs together? Or was this going on beforehand?”

“I’ve always had feelings for Elle but I told myself it was friendship. Working together just made me see it was deeper. None of this is your fault, Daisy. I’m the one who did this.”

I cocked my head. “You think? Of course it’s not my fault! Did you sleep with her, you asshole?”

“No. I swear, I didn’t. We kissed.”

At least, I had something to cling to. Imagining him having sex with Elle and climbing into my bed made me sick. “What about Coop?”

“She broke up with him.”

“So, that’s it. We’re out and you’re both together.” I rubbed my eyes and told myself one day, this nightmare would be behind me. One day, I’d be happy again, and would never think about Noah again.

One day.

His misery should’ve made me happy. I should’ve been doing what most women do when they’re dumped—screaming, accusing, getting it all out in a fit of rage and Olivia Rodrigo songs.

But I only felt sad and empty because it was over.

Being without Noah was like being without my best friend.

How would I get through the day? What would happen to me?

I wasn’t only losing my boyfriend. I was losing my friend group because there was no way I could forgive Elle or hang with Gabby or Landon ever again.

“I’m so sorry, Daisy. I’ll do anything to make this easier on you. Answer any of your questions.”

“There’s nothing left to say.” I got up from the couch and started walking to the bedroom. “I’m going to pack up some of my stuff and get out of here. Don’t contact me, okay? I can’t deal with it.”

Noah stood, his tall figure hunched over, pure suffering carving out the lines of his face.

I wondered if I should tell him I’d set up the incident with Elle and Coop in the bathroom. Would he be shocked to know I, too, had a dark side? I was tempted but it wouldn’t change the end of our story. Noah didn’t deserve to know any of my truth.

Not anymore.

I hurriedly threw some things in a bag and walked out. I’d seek closure later, when I could actually think straight.

I deserved so much more than this.