Page 26 of My Fake Date With My Childhood Friend (Port Lane Romances #3)

eighteen

“Joseph, why are you talking about?” I snapped.

What did he mean he broke up with Nikki for me?

I definitely didn’t ask him to do that. It was bad enough that our relationship got ruined, but what they both did would have all been for nothing if he still dumped Nikki for me, anyway.

I guess he thought it was fun until the thrill wore off and he realized he’d lost the girl he really wanted.

But I couldn’t believe the audacity he had to do all of that and then come to me like everything would be forgiven.

“I broke up with Nikki because I want to be with you,” he repeated earnestly.

He grabbed my hand and stared at me. When Alexander looked me in the eyes like that, it felt romantic.

When Joseph did it, I felt like he was planning to kill me.

“I love you, Penny and I always have. What I did with Nikki was just a lapse in judgement. I couldn’t stop thinking about you when I was with her, so I came back for you. ”

Did he really think this was romantic? I pushed his hand away.

His touch was like acid against my skin.

I didn’t want to be involved with him or any of his stupid drama.

Even if he did break up with Nikki for me, did he actually think everything would revert to the way it was just because he showed up with flowers and a sad face?

“I don’t want to be with you, and you know that,” I said, shaking my head.

I wasn’t amused by his antics and I knew that he wouldn’t listen unless I was blunt about it.

Besides, I wanted him to get out of here.

He couldn’t have come at a worse time. Alexander was still waiting for me in the living room, not knowing that I liked him back. I should have been there with him.

“What do you want me to do, Penny?” Joseph asked. “I’ll do anything! Whatever it takes for you to realize how much I love you.”

I tuned out his pathetic pleading as I heard footsteps approaching the door.

“Penny?” Alexander called. His voice was loud enough for both me and Joseph to hear. “Is everything okay? Who’s at the door?”

Joseph frowned. “You’re not home alone? Who’s with you?”

“Who do you think?” I asked, rolling my eyes. He had just seen me at the dance with Alexander, but he couldn’t believe that he’d brought me home? “Not that it’s any of your business, anyway.”

“It’s Alexander, isn’t it?” His hand tightened around the bouquet.

“Wow, you deserve a trophy for guessing so quickly,” I said flatly.

“You shouldn’t hang around with that guy,” Joseph said. He looked oddly disappointed. “He doesn’t love you.”

“You don’t know what love is.”

Alexander came up behind me and opened the door wider so he could see who was there.

His eyes widened in surprise as he saw Joseph standing there with flowers.

The two of them made eye contact, and both looked angry to see each other.

The tension thickened. There was definitely a sense of rivalry between the two.

“What is going on here?” Alexander asked. He didn’t sound angry, but he sounded very uncomfortable.

“Nothing,” I said quickly. “Joseph was just leav?—”

“Excuse me, but you’re not a part of this conversation,” Joseph interrupted.

That comment set Alexander off. He was always the calm headed, but it was evident Joseph could easily set him off. Joseph had a way of talking that would set you off if you weren’t cool-headed.

“Hey, you’re talking about my girlfriend,” Alexander snapped, gritting his teeth. “Remember that before things get ugly.”

Joseph didn’t flinch. He didn’t look scared at all. One thing about him was that he loved to run his mouth.

“Well, she’s not going to be your girlfriend much longer.” He smirked at me, looking for confirmation. He was way too over-confident. His boldness surprised me. “Right?”

Alexander was staring at both of us as if putting two and two together.

Tensions were rising. I was obviously not going to get back together with Joseph, but how could I explain that?

I was so overwhelmed that I couldn’t say anything.

It was like my mouth had been zipped shut.

I hated Joseph for showing up here out of the blue and ruining this perfect moment between me and Alexander.

How could he think that I would ever want him back?

When I didn’t speak up, Joseph took that as confirmation and looked at Alexander triumphantly.

Alexander looked at me with big, sad eyes.

“You guys are getting back together?” He asked in a small voice.

Obviously not. There was no question about that. I needed to say something, or I would risk losing him forever.

“No!” I said.

“Yes!” Joseph said at the same time. I rolled my eyes. He needed to learn to let me go.

“I wasn’t asking you, Joseph,” Alexander snapped. “You’re just a piece of trash who doesn’t know his place. Penny and I are happy and we’re staying together.”

His eyes were begging me to jump in and sell our story.

After all, we were still pretending to date.

But I got tongue-tied when I was under pressure and I just stared back at him, word s lost in my throat.

Alexander stared back at me, looking hurt and confused.

Between Joseph’s insistence that we were getting back together and Alexander’s confession of his feelings, this was the worst time for me to be silent.

“Oh,” Alexander said. “Okay, I see how it is. Never mind, then. I’ll let you guys talk.”

Looking visibly upset, he grabbed his jacket and walked out, not sparing me another glance.

“Alexander, wait!” I called. I took a step outside into the pouring rain but when I tried to go after Alexander, Joseph pulled me back. “Alexander, please!”

He spun around at the end of the driveway.

“You don’t need to explain yourself to me, Penny,” Alexander said. “I get it. He was your first love, right?”

I recoiled. It was the first time I really understand how he probably saw me: the girl who was still in love with her ex-boyfriend who cheated on her and would take him back the moment he apologized.

Could I really blame him? But what would I do now?

I wished he knew my heart. All I ever wanted was him now.

Joseph was ruining what could be my shot at happiness.

Alexander got in his car and quickly sped off. I was left alone in the pouring rain with my least favourite person in the world. Alexander storming out like that seemed to please Joseph. He smiled widely and grabbed my hand again.

“Phew, I’m glad that is over with,” he said. “Let’s pick up where we left off.”

He leaned in to kiss me but I shoved him away as hard as possible. He stumbled backwards and dropped his umbrella.

“Get away from me!” I exclaimed.

“What was that for?” He yelled.

“Will you stop this? Can’t you see I don’t love you anymore, so will you get out of my house?”

“You know you love me.”

“No, I don’t!” I felt like I was about to cry. “You ruined everything!”

“You’ll come around.”

“No, I won’t. Alexander is too important to lose because of the likes of you.”

I ran into my house, slamming the door loudly, not waiting another second to hear what that lunatic would say.

I ran to my room and jumped on my bed with hot tears running down my face.

My heart hurt. My mind flashed to how Alexander looked hurt as he ran away.

Even if it was a fake relationship, we had been so happy.

I was always happy with Alexander. He never made me cry or doubt myself.

It was like it was the two of us against the world.

He was there for me in the darkest moment of my life, and I would never forget that.

I should have told him how I felt, but I didn’t.

I chickened out as usual when he had been nothing but nice and loyal to me.

He supported me through everything and this was how I repaid him.

I knew my sincere feelings for Alexander, but I hadn’t expressed them.

It hurt so bad to think I caused him any pain.

Now he thought I was getting back together with Joseph.

Happy memories flashed through my mind and just made me cry harder.

I felt like I was going to suffocate under the weight of all of these emotions.

This was why I promised myself I wouldn’t fall in love with anyone again after Joseph.

The pain of losing a relationship was just too painful to bear.

I’d made a huge mistake and now I was paying the price for it.

I tried calling Alexander again and again, not knowing what I would say to him if he answered, but praying that he would, anyway. After probably the tenth time of him ignoring my calls, I sent him a text.

Hey, I’m really sorry. Please call me back. I’m worried about you.

He read the message but didn’t say anything.

At least I was sure he wasn’t dead. I thought of going over to his house, but I knew he didn’t want me there and I didn’t want him to be uncomfortable in his own space.

He was still angry and he wouldn’t listen now.

I was going to have to wait for his anger to subside.

I made a promise to myself I would look for him and make it up to him. He didn’t deserve all of this. He deserved the world.