When it Happened *(Completed) EDITING

CHAPTER 69

I didn't even stop him before my body flinched once I heard Joe slam my front door shut as he stormed out. I replayed it all, everything I said in my head. Everything we said. It was right then, all my emotions started to come together that I panicked and buried my face in my hands and burst out in tears as my heart sank to the bottom of my stomach.

What have I done now? I drove him away again. Why must I act this way and feel as if the world has paused everything?

Why do I feel as if I'm in competition with Crystal, someone who's the same age or close to it, as Lyla? This is never going to work out, and the more I keep telling myself it is, this happens.

I didn't know Crystal very well or at all really, besides the awkward run-ins at the Restaurants, Belize, his house, I mean she's been in my face, and I could never say, I actually had an appropriate conversation with her.

I actually feel sorry for her, which I can't believe I'm saying it. I don't understand how she still ended up being Joe's assistant even after he called off the engagement. She seems like a genuinely kind person, but there's something off, something in her eyes I saw tonight. I've been there, I've seen it before.

The atmosphere in the room is dead silent. We can't possibly keep this up. I can't keep this up, and what hurts more, Is that I know we both know it. My sad thoughts got interrupted as I hear the door open and slammed shut. As I hear Joe's foot stomps louder when he first barged in.

My heart skipped as my headshot toward the kitchen doorway, watching as Joe stormed back into my kitchen, nose flaring, jaw clenched, "Alix, I'm not going to leave every time you throw me out or don't want to hear what I have to say," he snaps with his fist balled on his sides and stops some feet from me.

"Yes, I get it, Alix, but I'm not going to leave again when you tell me to go," he speaks out loud and feel the anger radiate off him.

I can't even think for the moment, my eyes are swollen from crying when he left a moment ago, it broke my heart. I thought he left me again.

"You get it?" I snapped back.

"Yes, I do, please, Alix, don't cry, hear me out at what I need to say," He pleaded. We both are looking at each other. I hate how Crystal has this hold over me.

"Joe, what is it that you're going to tell me, she's always going to be there, you know how it affects me, and I'm trying my best but..." I can't even finish, this is the same song and dance between us.

"Alix, it's not that simple, there's so much I can't just come out and say."

"You see, you're always shutting me out, only tell me what you want to say," I point out the obvious.

"I've made no secret of what I wanted, Alix," he fists his hand again, "Unlike how you've been keeping us a secret from Lyla still."

I narrow my eyes at him, "Joe that's unfair, you know very well, I'm trying...I-I...," I turn around, "It's just not that simple, and this is not the same,"

"Oh, really, how is it not the same?" I can't believe we are now in the subject that's been holding me, hostage, for so long now.

I can see by the corner of my eye, Joe starting to walk towards me, I turn to look at him "No please" I raise my hand up at him as I took a second to think about what he had said.

He looks back into my eyes, "I don't know why she showed up," he says.

"Need I remind you," I spat.

"Alix, please, can we just talk about this" Joe says, running his hand through his hair, his eyes staring down at the shattered glass all over my kitchen floor.