I Don't Belong To You

Chapter 24

The silence is deafening.

Having Freen right in front of her makes her want to cry.

She looks so damn good.

For the millionth time, she feels nothing but regret. She hates that she let her go.

"You uh...you look good."

She shuts her eyes. She didn't mean to say that out loud.

Freen puts the few groceries away in silence and the urge to help is surprisingly overwhelming.

"Do you...want some help? I can help with-"

"Becky."

The tone stops her in her tracks, preventing her from coming any closer.

"Yeah?"

"What are you doing here?"

She sounds more tired than irritated and she hopes that maybe that's a good sign.

"I...I came to say sorry. I know it's belated, but I wanted you to know. That I was sorry. For before."

She's rambling and the apology wasn't exactly how she practiced it but it was still good.

"You're sorry? Sorry for what exactly?"

She clenches her teeth, slightly annoyed that Freen is going to make her spell it out.

"I'm sorry for not standing up for you with Neal, that was dumb. And completely my fault. And I'm sorry for what I said before you left. I didn't mean that stuff."

"You mean the part about you cheating or the part about you not loving me?"

She can tell that it took Freen everything she had to get that out. Her knuckles are gripping the counter so tightly and her jaw is clenched.

"Uh..both?"

Her eyes narrow.

"Are you seriously asking me what you're sorry about?"

"No! I mean, I'm telling you...both. I'm sorry for both of them. Like...just, all of it. I just...I wanted to say sorry in person. That's all."

Freen shakes her head and rolls her eyes.

"Well, I appreciate the apology."

She nods and then stands uselessly in the middle of the room.

She hadn't come for a second chance. She wants one, more than anything. But knows she doesn't deserve that.

"Was there something else you needed, Becky?"

That cold tone is back. Not that it ever really left. Freen sounds so done. So over it and so over her and she has to blink back the tears.

"No...guess not."

Despite the finality of her words, she doesn't move.

She knows she should. She knows it's over. But she also knows that walking out of Freen's door will be the end of them. And...even though it's inevitable, even though it's always been inevitable, she can't bring herself to do it just yet.

But in order to stay, she has to say something. Anything.

So, she says the stupidest thing. The first thing that comes to mind even though she doesn't even want to know the answer.

"Are you...are you happy with him?"

At Freen's confusion, she elaborates. "The guy from the market." She swallows the bile in her throat. "Are you with him..are you happy?"