Page 122 of How to Break My Heart 1

I hear her voice urging me to fight. Encouraging me to stand up and own my life because it belongs to me and only me.

Lex leans over to whisper, “I have your back, son. You know what you need to do.”

People will call me a fool for going up against the man who dealsallthe cards.

But the only fool is the one who doesn’t fight for everyone he loves.

And doesn’t know his own worth.

“There is only one thing I will tell you…” I say, straightening my shoulders and staring into Harvey’s cold eyes. “Game over, Beaumont. I win, you lose.”

CHAPTER 31

Eva

The days blur together.

I fell asleep on the couch again, only to wake up in the dark. My sleep cycle is beyond screwed. I’ve lost count of what day it is, blinded by the persistent headache that refuses to leave me. My mouth is dry, unable to swallow normally. I reluctantly pull out my phone and purposely ignore all the missed calls and messages from the last few days.

Not a single one is from Aston, even though I texted him to let him know I was here if he needed me.

The loneliness is palpable.

So I call the one person in the world who never lets me down: my brother. It’s daytime in France, I think, but I am too tired to even check. Family is exactly what I need right now.

“Elliot,” I cry softly over the phone as he answers. “Are you awake?”

“It’s nine in the morning, Eva. Of course I’m awake,” he answers in a rush, with noise surrounding him. “What’s wrong?”

“Everything! Everything’s gone wrong. Billie lost her mom, Maddy pulled out of her wedding, and I…” I trail off, holding back what happened with Aston.

“Eva…” He raises his voice. “Hold on, let me go into my office.”

There’s the sound of shuffling and people yelling in the background. I assume he’s at work in the kitchen. It suddenly becomes quiet, and then Elliot breathes, “I’m back.”

“Elliot,” I whisper as another fat tear falls down my cheek. “I don’t know what to do. It hurts. Life hurts right now.”

“It’s fine to be upset, Eva.”

“Is it?”

“You’re always the strong one. The first one there if anyone needs help or if anyone needs saving,” he says with conviction. “But sometimes, you need help. You need saving.”

“I’m just… I’m so tired.”

“And that’s your red flag.”

“My red flag?”

“Yes,yourred flag. Eva, you have to put yourself first so you can help others. Your battery is depleted, and until you can recharge, you can’t be everything to everyone.”

Elliot is right. I’m forever trying to help everyone, and sometimes, I don’t take a moment for what I want.

Like Aston.

I was too far in my head, so worried about Maddy’s wedding that I lost my patience and pushed him away. He tried to explain, but I was too upset to even listen to him. My guard was up, and I didn’t know how to pull it down for the man I love.

And my other red flag… pushing people away because I’m scared to get hurt.