Wade felt her hold her breath as he savored her beautiful fragrance, holding her close and gently caressing her hair. He knew it was wrong, but he couldn't seem to get enough of her.
After all, she was now his Sage Callahan.
Her arms unknowingly wrapped around his broad shoulders, holding onto him and cherishing the moment. She saw the look he gave her, the same look he had given her six years ago—the look of pure adoration. The look that messed her up.
But were all those looks, talks, kisses, and hugs just a game to him? Was she just a pawn in his plan?
She tried to convince herself that she meant nothing to him, but his actions spoke otherwise.
She still hated him. She couldn't forget all those taunts, punishments, torture, and panic attacks that haunted her even now. They would haunt her until her death.
She wasn't suicidal, or at least that's what she thought. She had everything, so why would she be suicidal? That's what people had been telling her her entire life.
She was pretty, had amazing grades, and was the queen of the school. Just because a boy had betrayed her didn't mean she lost the will to live. Right?
That's what everyone had been telling her, but little did they know, Wade was more than just a boy to her. He was everything.
She was a positive girl, always trying to see the good in everyone and everything. But being in the mafia didn't allow her to be that way. Her mother had always compared her to other girls—girls who could get any man to their knees with just a smile, girls who had everyone wrapped around their fingers.
She couldn't do that.
She was attractive, but not in a way that caused people to turn around when she walked in. She had the kind of beauty that made you fall in love with her over time—the kind that laughed hysterically but held your hand when you needed to cry, the kind that teased you endlessly but would kill anyone who insulted you, the kind that made you feel safe around her and in your own skin. She was an angel in disguise, but what is an angel that hasn't survived hell?
Sage Callahan was that type of girl.
And to her, Wade was like the last piece of the puzzle.
She knew she needed him just to simply exist. She knew he would be there with her, and she knew how much he loved her.
But one disastrous night had changed everything. He could never be hers, even if she wanted him to be.
She moved out of his hold and went to the cabinets to get the first aid kit. Making him sit down on a chair, she bent down to apply ointment to his face.
He winced a little when she touched his scar, and she mumbled a quick "sorry," making him smile a little despite the pain.
As she was about to leave, he held her wrist, making her turn around and look at him. She wasn't surprised by the way he pulled her; it had been his habit since middle school to randomly hold her hand or waist and bring her closer.
Internally, she groaned, scolding herself for thinking about the past again.
Everything was a lie, Sage.
He tugged her hand a little, rubbing his thumb over the back of her palm, seeing her lost in her thoughts.
She tried to pull away, but he held on more tightly, making her almost want to slap him again.
"I'm sorry," he said, now holding both of her hands in his, softening her gaze a little.
But could she show that to him? No.
She knew what she was doing was cruel to him, but what he had done in the past was way worse.
She kept her emotions in check and asked, a lopsided smile playing on her lips as if she was mocking his apology, "For what?"
He spoke, looking at her, "For what I said on the wedding day in the dressing room and for what I said some time ago. You know I didn't mean it, don't you?" He immediately regretted the last part when he saw the look of fury and pain on her face.
She scoffed internally at his logic. He didn't mean it? Yeah, sure. He was just trying to justify his shitty actions and words. After all, he had grown up to be like his father.
"You want to know what I know? You seriously do?" she spoke quietly, trying her best not to take out her gun and shoot him.
"See, Wade, we're in the mafia, right? These types of betrayals keep happening. It's very normal. Just forget it and move on. Something like this must have happened in your mafia too, right? It's relatable, right?" he blabbered, not realizing what he was saying, and when he did, it was already too late.
She stood there frozen after hearing what he said. So what he did was okay because it happened often?
She took a deep breath and moved closer to him, making him stand up and grip the table behind him for support.
"No, I don't relate to you. And if anyone ever does, then they are fucking manipulative," she said, coming closer and gripping one of his arms tightly, her nails hurting his skin, but not as much as the pain on Sage's face.
"Sage, listen-" he tried to speak.
"And I didn't talk shit about you to anyone, ever," she cut him off, glaring at no one in particular.
"Just-" he again tried to speak.
"Never told anyone anything bad," she spoke powerfully.
"Please-" before he could say a word, she cut him off.
"You know why? Because it's embarrassing. Seeing the person who you loved more than yourself betray you."
"Just stop-" he spoke.
"And all you did was make me feel so-" she spoke, but got cut off when she saw his hand raised near her face, dangerously close, as if he was about to do something he shouldn't.
She took a step back and flinched, crashing into a bottle, knocking it over and causing it to fall to the floor.
When she realized what he was about to do, she just stood still.
She didn't expect him to try to slap her.
As if some consciousness was knocked into her, she looked at his hand that was still up in the air and at him, looking like he was about to faint.
She clapped her hands loudly, getting his attention, and chuckled humorlessly.
She swallowed the lump in her throat because she would start crying if she spoke, then stood at a distance, still afraid of him.
His heart shattered into a million pieces seeing the scared girl behind her confident facade.
She smiled a bitter smile and pointed at his hand that was still up in the air, making him quickly put it behind his back, looking down.
"Look at me now. Why are you looking down, huh? You didn't think of me when you were about to slap me, but now look at you, acting all innocent," she almost yelled, and he looked up, but what he saw broke him.
She was crying uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face, just like that day. Her voice was shaky as she yelled, releasing all the anger that had built up over these six years, "Just stop ruining my fucking life!" She threw a glass vase to the opposite side of the room, shattering it.
Breaking, just like their hearts.