Chapter 336
He doesn’t move or speak. He doesn’t even blink for a second.
Then finally, after what feels like decades, he breathes, “What the fuck p>
“Exactly what I thought,” I say, looking at a spot on the floor.
“I thought she was bad,” he continues, running a hand through his hair, pacing now. “I thought she was toxic but this? This is… this is sick p>
I huff out a bitter laugh. “Sick is a very tame term for it p>
“It’s some fucked-up shit,” he adds and I couldn’t agree.
It makes me sick just thinking about everything she did and all for what?
Did she hate Sierra that much? How jealous can someone be to plot something so evil? How sick in the head was she?
Gunner pushes his chair back and looks at me “How did you never notice any of that shit? You were with her for years p>
“I’ve been asking myself that,” I say, my voice breaking slightly. “I didn’t see any of it. I never even guessed it… not even once p>
His jaw tightens. “Fuck, Noah… I don’t even know what to tell you p>
I wasn’t expecting anything. I don’t even have words myself, so how can I expect him to?
“I destroyed her,” I whisper. “I destroyed her for something she never even did p>
Gunner doesn’t argue because he can’t. Because it’s true… I put Sierra through hell and nothing can erase that. Not even my guilt and regrets.
“So what are you going to do?” he asks.
I stare at the desk for a long moment. “I want to fight for her. To beg for a second chance… but I don’t even know where to start p>
“I won’t lie to you, Noah.” He begins, “But winning her back will be hard and you have to accept that she may never give you a chance p>
My heart stops for a second and my breathing becomes uneven as the weight of his words settles.
“I know,” I whisper shakily, running my hands through my hair, “But I have to at least try p>
He nods. “Then I wish you luck p>
“I need to see her,” I say, standing up with a little bit more urgency.
“Then go,” he claps me on the back. “You’ve already wasted so many years… It’s time you finally get your woman p>
I don’t spare him another look as I rush outside and jump into my car.
I have no fucking idea what I’m going to tell her when I do see her; all I know is that I need to see her. I need to make this right. I need to fix this.
The drive feels longer than it should with every second stretched thin by the weight in my chest.
My hands tighten around the steering wheel as Sierra’s house finally comes into view.
For a second I hesitate as the doubts begin swarming me and I begin questioning what right I have to be here… but then I take a deep breath and push those thoughts away.
Doubts have never stopped me before, and they won’t start now. With that thought, I step out of my car.
I walk up to the door slowly, my eyes on the ground as I rehearse what I’m going to say to her.
‘Hi Sierra’… that’s doesn’t sound right.
‘I’m sorry’… she already said she didn’t want to hear those words.
‘I found out everything’… I think about it for a second and decide to go with that. It sounded like the best place to start.
I keep repeating those words in my head, my heart racing in anxiety and a bit of hope that maybe she’ll hear me out.
I lift my hand and freeze because standing on the porch is Sierra kissing a man.
Everything inside me shatters as I stand there frozen, watching her with someone else.
She pulls away, smiling at him radiantly, staring at him like he hang the moon for her and clinging to him like he’s the only thing holding her together.
My chest caves in and my breath stutters… I can’t move. Can’t think. Can’t even fucking blink.
Her eyes slide past the man’s shoulders and land on me. The moment she sees me, the softness on her face disappears instantly.
“Noah, what are you doing here?” she asks, frowning.
Her voice is guarded, and for the life of me, I can’t answer because I’m still staring. Still trying to process what I’m seeing.
The man’s shoulders tense, and then he swiftly turns and when he does, the whole fucking world stops.
My blood runs cold because I know that face. I know him, but my brain is having such a fucking hard time catching up with what I’m seeing.
Out of everyone… Out of every fucking person in this goddamn world, why him?
“Adrian…?” The name leaves my lips like a whisper.
Shock slams into me all over again because the woman I destroyed… The woman I lost… The woman I can’t stop loving is standing there wrapped around my best friend.