Hailey gave me a few easy things to do before grabbing her purse. “Your ride is here. I’m taking off early. Remember, I’m always here.”

I was impressed that it took a full hour for Fisher to arrive.

“Thanks,” I murmured as Fisher opened the door and Hailey squeezed past him, shooting him a cringing expression.

“You’re fired.”

My gaze lifted to Fisher. I wasn’t surprised, yet … I was.

“The tile shop where I get most of my tile, they’re looking to hire someone to answer the phone. I got you an interview. It’s just a formality. They will offer you the job. I’m going to tell Rory I found you a new job because I didn’t want you on the job sites where you could get hurt. And Hailey doesn’t really need your help most days.”

I swallowed the lump of emotion in my throat. “Is this about yesterday? Or this morning?” I managed to say in a shaky voice.

“Yes,” he replied flatly, just as flat as the expression on his face.

“Rose promised not to tell Rory,” I said.

“She lied. Rose will absolutely tell Rory unless we end it.”

I had all these what-ifs lining the tip of my tongue.

What if we told Rory first?

What if we were more careful?

What if the world ended?

What happened to living in the moment? Living your best life? Loving the one you’re with? That was all I did. Rory left me, and I fell in love with Fisher because he was the one I was with. It was really Rory’s fault.

“Rory’s taking the morning off tomorrow to help you get a car. The interview with the tile shop is the following morning. You’ll be able to drive there on your own.”

“Are you mad at me?” I whispered.

He returned a tiny wince before pinching the bridge of his nose and blowing out a breath. “No. I’m mad at myself.”

The only thing more painful than rejection was regret. Fisher brought his A game. One brutal punch after the next.

A stupid, selfish, errant tear made its way to my cheek, and I looked away quickly to wipe it.

“Fuck …” he mumbled. “This is what I wanted to avoid. Rory is my friend. Rose is my friend. I didn’t want to be the villain. The guy who broke Rory’s daughter’s heart.”

I stood and grabbed my backpack, refusing to look at him as I shouldered past him to the door. “You’re such an arrogant asshole.”

Yeah, I said it. No regrets.

“And you’re the most beautiful and infuriating woman I have ever met.”

I stopped at the door like it was a wall that appeared out of nowhere. All the friends of that rebel tear showed up to ruin my carefully constructed facade, busting open the flood gates.