Beautiful Beast - Page 110

“It is not safe for you to be with me. We are done,” I say roughly, my throat aching. “I am not fucking kidding this time, Belle. It’s the last straw. You need to get out of my apartment and stay away from me for good.”

Chapter 25

Belle

Ihaven’tstoppedcryingsince I left Adam’s place over a week ago.

I’ve called and texted him, but he won’t answer me. And part of me doesn’t want to keep chasing him while the other part doesn’t want to give up. Any time something hard happens, especially something where I should be the angry one, he pushes me away.

He’s trying to protect me, but he’s actually doing the opposite.

The bed was too far away when we got home, so Buster and I laid on the couch when we left Adam’s and have barely left our spots. He’s my pillow, and his fur is soaked from my tears. I’m nuzzling into his neck and petting his ears when I freeze.

No.

It can’t be.

There’s a bump.

After what Buster has already been through with his botched surgery, every bump scares the shit out of me. Not only am I terrified of losing him way too early, but I also don’t want to put him through another procedure.

And after Adam ripped my heart out, I can’t even stand the thought of any more pain.

“Buster,” I cry. “Oh, no. My poor, sweet baby boy.”

All I want to do is hide, but now we need an emergency appointment with the vet. I had to call in sick to work because I’m not functional, and I also don’t want to deal with questions about my bruises.

Everyone will assume I’m a battered woman when it’s so far from the truth.

It takes ten shaky breaths before I’m able to make the call. Luckily, the vet can squeeze Buster in within the hour.

I drag myself off the couch, Buster hot on my heels, and pull on the first clean clothes that I can find. Then I tie my hair into a messy knot at the base of my neck. Showering is overrated, so I pull a baseball hat down low to try and hide most of Adam’s unintentional sins.

There’s no way that I can face this appointment alone, and as much as it breaks me, I don’t think that I can count on the man I love to be here for us.

But there is one person who always will be without question.

Belle: I found a bump on Buster’s neck.

Ariel: Oh, shit. What time is the appointment?

Belle: 10:30

Ariel: I’m coming over.

Belle: Love you.

Ariel: Always.

My best friend in the world knows everything about me, but it still doesn’t feel right to confide in her about what happened between me and Adam. The details of his PTSD are private, and I have no idea how she’ll react.

The first time it happened, I told her that we broke up but didn’t go into details. With the angry bruises on my body, there will be no lying or hiding that something bad happened.

If I tell Ariel and she ends up hating Adam and never wants me to take him back – because I’m still holding out some hope that we can work through things – then life is going to be difficult and awkward.

I’ve always hated when girlfriends complained about their boyfriends, told me all the terrible things they did, and then took them back anyway. After the hundredth time, the conversations and tears just felt like a waste of time.

But this is different.