“Then why didn’t you do that?” I yell. “You seem to know exactly what you should have done, so what made you decide the better option was to drag me into a love triangle that I would never willingly choose to be a part of? You set us up to fail!”

Ryan steps back at my words. He swallows and sits down on one of the settees, leaning his elbows on his knees and covering his face with his hands. I have the horrifying instinct to comfort him but keep my feet planted to the ground.

He eventually lifts his head up, looking straight ahead and seeming torn apart.

“I thought I could do it,” he says quietly. “I thought I could be around you and keep my emotions in check, but I couldn’t. Being near you like that, staying in your apartment and seeing you every day, it felt like I was living out a fantasy that I’ve held on to for ten years, and I didn’t want it to end. I was afraid telling you the truth would ruin everything we started to build, but by not telling you, I didn’t just ruin it. I demolished it.”

I feel my lip starting to quiver and I look away as I swipe at a renegade tear. “You really are a great salesman. It’s almost like you believe everything you’re saying.”

“That’s because it’s true! For the past decade I’ve sworn that I was going to do things different from my parents. I didn’t want a relationship with crazy ups and downs. I was going to marry someone calm and steady and who didn’t expect or want some wild, over-the-top love story. I know that’s not what sells in your books but that’s what solid, stable families are built on.”

“If that’s the life you want then go for it! Don’t act like I’m the one who ruined your plans.”

“But you did!” he shouts, once again on his feet. “I had everything I thought I needed. I was with someone who wanted the same things as me, and after seeing you just once, I was ready to throw it all out the damn window. And the whole time, you didn’t even have the decency to tell me that you were going to be gone for six months.”

“Stop with the excuses! What are you looking to hear from me, Ryan? Yes, you’re right. Me not telling you about Italy after being unofficially back together with you for less than a week fully makes up for the fact that you have a fiancée. No worries, we’re even now.”