Chapter 4

I looked at Logan, then glanced at Hailey standing by the door, watching the drama with keen interest.

A spark of anger flared in my chest.

"What else did you expect? Did you bring your coworker along just to show off how popular you are?"

"Not cheating and not flirting with other women is the bare minimum in a relationship. Does that really deserve a cheerleader singing your praises? Don't pretend you didn't understand what she was hinting at in the car."

"Logan, do you honestly think this relationship is working?"

Seeing that his smiles and jokes weren't softening me, Logan's embarrassment turned into fury.

"No, it's not working! Of course it's not!"

"The second I do one little thing wrong, you blow your lid! You completely erase everything good I've ever done for you and scream for a breakup. I never said I wouldn't change! I told you I'd change next time!"

Hailey stepped in right on cue to stir the pot.

She touched Logan's arm, pretending to soothe him:

"Logan, please don't be mad. It's all my fault. Chloe, if you want to yell at someone, yell at me! As a coworker, I shouldn't have gotten involved. I just felt so bad seeing how suffocated Logan feels in this relationship."

"Chloe, I'm so sorry. If it makes you feel better, just slap me!"

With that, Hailey actually grabbed my hand and tried to pull it toward her cheek.

Logan shoved me back instantly, shielding Hailey behind him.

"Hailey, what are you apologizing for? She's the one being ungrateful!"

"She was trying to help our relationship, and not only do you brush her off, you try to hit her? Chloe, do you even have a conscience?!"

His shove knocked my shoulder hard against the wall.

A dull pain shot through my arm, making me wince.

Pale-faced, I looked at the two of them.

I let out a bitter, exhausted laugh.

"From the moment we met today until now, did I say a single word to your precious coworker? Did I lay a finger on her?"

"Logan, turning a relationship into this... it's pathetic."

I picked up my storage box and walked out.

Behind me, Logan shouted furiously after my retreating back:

"Pathetic? You're the one who's pathetic! You have the worst temper on the planet! I swallowed my pride to beg you back, and you still treat me like dirt! Fine! If you want to break up, then get the hell out! I'm done catering to you!"

"Chloe, you walk out that door today, and don't you dare ever come back!"

I didn't stop. Giving him another backward glance felt like a complete waste of energy.

I pulled the door shut and left.

For the next three or four days, Logan didn't text me once.

Even when Mason asked about it, Logan just frowned and brushed it off:

"Let her throw her tantrum! Like I care!"

"I bent over backwards to apologize, what more does she want? I told her next time, next time, but she just won't listen!"

Mason didn't know what else to say.

Days went by, but looking at his completely silent phone, Logan grew increasingly restless and anxious.

Two weeks after the breakup, unable to stand the silence any longer, Logan invited Mason out for drinks, asking him to bring his wife, Mia, hoping they could help him figure out how to win me back.

"Mason, don't you think Chloe is being ridiculously stubborn?"

"If I don't text her, she doesn't text me. Are we really just going to stay in this standoff?"

Mason gave a strained smile, gently reminding him:

"It's not really a standoff, man."

"Didn't she... break up with you?"

Logan scoffed, feigning indifference.

"She's just talking out of anger. We've been together for almost four years. How could she just drop it like that? She's just mad, waiting for me to crawl back like a dog and beg."

"Not this time. I'm not backing down!"

Mia, who had been quiet the whole time, suddenly spoke up:

"Logan, nobody stands in place waiting for you forever."

Logan went silent.

The words hit him like a physical blow, leaving him deeply unsettled.

He picked at his food, unable to focus, before finally pulling out his phone to text me:

[Are you done being mad?]

A bright red exclamation mark popped up on his screen.

Blocked.

Logan's brow furrowed tightly. He turned to Mason across the table.

"Lend me your phone. Chloe blocked me."

"I need to text her."

Mason nodded and pulled out his phone. But as he unlocked it and tapped on Instagram, his eyes widened.

His face went pale as he looked up at Logan.

"Logan... I think Chloe is seeing someone."