Too Good to be True

Chapter 1

“B reak up?" Something reminiscent of my heart thumps and bumps with fury against my chest. My throat closes, and my stomach is on the floor.

I look into the familiar blue eyes of the man I love, the man I've devoted the last two years of my life to, not believing my ears. Not understanding what he just said.

"Spend some time apart. Make sure we’re right for each other."

Corey doesn't look at me. Instead, his eyes are downcast as he spins his coffee spoon between his thumb and pointer finger.

"You really want to break up?" My voice cracks. The words barely leave my mouth. I sound weak. Broken. "Why? I don't understand.”

I really don’t. I thought he was going to propose. A friend of mine bumped into him looking at rings in a local jewelry store.

"C'mon Bailey. You know I love you." He stretches his hand out and places it over mine.

See? He cares. I didn't hear right. Or maybe he said it to get a reaction from me. That’s it! This must be a decoy, a plan to upset me before he does something sweet that makes me insanely happy, like propose.

His voice pulls me back to the moment.

“I love you. But I'm not in love with you." This time his words sucker punch me in the gut.

My heart, hopes, and spirit fall. Drop below sea level. Sink down into the dark, murky waters to the ocean floor.

"You woke up this morning and realized you're not in love with me?"

"Don't make this harder than it has to be. This has been on my mind for a while. Things haven't been right between us for some time now."

I take a long look into his eyes. They aren't cold and hard. Not by any means. But they aren't warm and loving either. They're flat. Neutral. They’re missing something. Something I can't put my finger on. Something about this eats at me. No, not something. Everything about this nibbles and gnaws at me from the inside out.

I'm hurting, and I don't see one ounce of remorse, not even a hint of regret in him. I don't think he's trying to hurt me, but fuck, it doesn't even look like he cares that he did. I want to lash out and hurt him back.

"It didn't seem like you had reservations about us when you were in bed with me last night."

"Don't put this all on me. You had to see this coming."

Put it on him? He's the one initiating it. And out of the blue. I don't say anything for a few long breaths. Instead, I dart my eyes off to the side because looking at him hurts too damn much.

It is on him. One hundred percent since he's the one breaking my heart. And I didn't see this coming. If I did, I would've held back, pulled away. Instead, I envisioned a future together, with a house and children. I gave him all of me. Everything I have. Everything I am.

"There's someone else, isn't there?" It's the only thing that makes sense. The only way he can justify walking away from us. "You're breaking up with me so you can have a clear conscience to be with her."

"Bailey."

"Or have you fucked her already? You have, haven't you, you selfish bastard?"

"Why am I selfish?" He leans in and snarls at me from across the table. "Because my feelings changed? Because I'm tired of being stifled by you? Am I supposed to sacrifice the rest of my life, my entire future, because we had a casual fling that lasted a couple of years?"

Who is this man?

"A casual fling? I practically live with you."

"Exactly."

I pull back, unable to process this. He's the one who insisted we exchange keys and that I leave stuff at his place. He's the one who stops me from leaving most nights because his bed is cold and empty without me.

"I'm sorry, Bailey. But this is what being single is about. If something isn't working, you move on."

Except for the last six months, he's been the one assuring me that we work perfectly together. Like a well-oiled wheel. I had a job offer to be a junior buyer at an exclusive boutique chain. It's what I always wanted. The only problem was that I'd have to move three hours away. Being together wouldn’t be easy anymore; it would take effort. Corey didn't want me to go. He couldn't bear to be that far from me.

And now this?

"You're being ridiculous. There isn't anyone else."

"Bullshit. That's the only reason you'd leave me."

I know I'm right. He has it too good with me. I do his laundry, shop for him. I even clean his apartment. Not to mention sex anytime he wants it. His jaw clenches, and anger flashes in his eyes. Too damn bad if I'm making this harder than he wants it to be. I gave up a golden opportunity because of him. And for what?

"Look, Bailey. I want excitement again. The nervous jitters I used to have before we'd see each other."

“Wake the fuck up, Corey. This is the real world. It’s always exciting in the beginning. Not having those jitters every time we see each other is part of our relationship growing."

"Maybe for you." He drops his eyes and looks down at the table. "All I'm saying is let's take a couple of weeks off. Go to South Carolina for Francesca’s wedding. We'll touch base when you get back and see where things are at."

"You're not coming?"

He lets out a long breath. "It's best if I don't."

"Are you kidding me? Maybe the trip is what we need to get things back on track."

"No. This is the right time for a break."

"Jackass. You waited until five days before we're supposed to leave to drop this on me?"

"I'm not going to waste my vacation time or money on a trip I don't want to take."

Not only is he fine that he's standing me up at the last minute, he doesn't seem to care at all about the embarrassing position he's putting me in. He’s cold and crass, and I'm so done with him!

“Thanks for the heads up," I get to my feet and dump my water in his lap.

"Fuck!" Corey jumps up.

I walk out, not caring what he does next.