I shake my head and start pacing the room, barely breathing. “I can’t believe I did this. I can’t believe I let this happen all over again.”

“Kara, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I swear I was going to end things with her as soon as I got home. I would have done it over the phone but that seemed wrong since we’re...” His words break off.

“You’re what?” I demand, already knowing what he means. “Go ahead and say it. Say it really loud so you can hear just how big of a dirtbag you are.”

Ryan swallows. “Since we’re engaged.”

Man, this hurts. I might throw up. I need to get out of here. I try to leave but he’s already in front of me, grabbing my wrists. The feel of his hands on me makes me want to claw my skin off. I pull myself out of his grasp and take a step backward.

“I knew I shouldn’t have done this. I knew being with you was wrong, but I didn’t care. This is what I get. This is what needs to happen to people like me.”

Ryan doesn’t say anything. He just stands there. He looks so lost.

“Why did you say all that garbage about wanting to move here and be with me? Were you setting me up?”

“What? No, I would never do that.”

“Yes, you would! You told me that first night after dinner you wanted to. You dreamed about it, remember? Revenge on the girl who dumped you in college. Did it feel as good as you imagined?”

“No! Please listen to me—I’m so sorry for not telling you the truth but you have to understand what things were like with Madison and me. We weren’t madly in love. We didn’t have an elaborate engagement. We were together for less than a year, but she kept talking about how all her friends were married and having kids and that we needed to take the next step. She asked me to marry her, knowing how I felt, and I said okay. I didn’t have a reason not to. She picked that ring out herself.”

“But you bought it for her! You agreed to be engaged.”

“What else was I supposed to do? I started dating someone. She was nice and she cared about me, and she wanted to get married, so I went along with it. I had no idea I would ever see you again or that you would still want me.”

“What were you supposed to do?” I echo disbelievingly. “How about not act like you’re single and that you want us to be together while you’re secretly engaged?”