“I don’t understand,” he said, a bewildered expression spreading across his boyish face. Inwardly, she cursed the emotion constricting her throat as she did her best to keep a blank face.

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand,” she said flatly. “You’ve got your whole life ahead of you. You’re the eldest son of a prestigious financial empire. You so do not need me in your life right now.” She rubbed her arms to warm herself against the cool august night.

“But I do need you Allie! I – “

“Stop,” she interrupted him with a hand held out in front of her. “I’m sure you’ve got a lot to say, but I don’t want to hear it.” I’d be making it harder for myself. “We had a nice run Jared, but it just wasn’t meant to be, you know?” It really wasn’t.

“But why?” he asked with a pained expression. “We were doing so well! Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”

She shrugged nonchalantly. Right, as If her heart wasn’t being stabbed to a million pieces. “Who says I need a reason?”

He was silent for a few moments, and then his eyes narrowed with a suspicion that marred his normally charming, boyish face. “It’s her isn’t it?” he said, the stirrings of anger already in his voice. “Is she making you break up with me?”

She knew he’d say this. It’s not like he was stupid. But she was prepared. “No,” she shook her head. “Your mother has nothing to do with this.” Right, Allie thought grimly. And my name is Penelope Cruz and I’m the reincarnation of Mother Teresa.

“Then why?” he asked, the pained expression once again on his face. He looked down at her with those large brown eyes and Allie was sure she’d crack. Just a few months ago she’d been two inches taller than him. He was no longer the small pretty boy idol of their junior class. He was still a bit on the slender side, but she’d felt the muscles he’d been developing recently and knew he was still growing.

He’d be gorgeous one day. He already was. But he’d be successful too. He had a whole life ahead of him.

He didn’t need her. Why did that pain her so much?

“There is no why Jared.” She said briskly, turning away from him. “I just don’t think that we should be together anymore. It isn’t working out.”

“No. Don’t.” he pleaded. “Tell me. Just tell me and I’ll change. I’ll be anything. I won’t call you when you’re at work or send you flowers on a Tuesday for no reason. Or all the other stuff you say you hate. Just--” He shut his eyes tightly for a moment and swallowed. “Just don’t leave me. Please.” He pulled her into a tight embrace.

She almost cracked right then. She didn’t mean it when she said she hated the flowers or the phone calls. Or the little chocolates he left her at school. They were embarrassing, but she didn’t hate them at all. And she cared about him. She did. And that’s why they could never be together.

“Stop it,” she said as she pushed out of his hold. “This is exactly why we can’t be together.” She looked at her feet while she said it. She couldn’t face him with what she had to say next. “I need more space.”

She resisted as he pulled her back to him. “Why Allie? Why? Is it someone else? Fine. Space? If you want more space, we’ll go on a break or something. Just please don’t say your breaking up with me.” Please don’t let there be another guy, he’s face said plainly, despite his words.

Her heart cried out for him, but she had to do it. His mother spoke the truth, and Allie knew it. She wasn’t smart, but she was anything but stupid. He had a life. He had a future. He could have anything and anyone he wanted.

What could she possibly offer him? What could she offer to someone who virtually had everything? Nothing. absolutely nothing. Just a ratty apartment, a dysfunctional family, and a barely-emotionally stable girlfriend.

In a few years he’d need a trophy wife. Someone elegant and refined. Someone who could host all his big company parties and who knew which fork to use for what dish at the dinner table.

Not someone like her who didn’t even use utensils on a regular basis.

She forced herself to sigh impatiently, a scowl on her face. “I didn’t want to say it alright? I didn’t.” I still don’t. “But you’re making me say it.” She glared at him. “There is someone else, alright? Someone nicer, someone smarter, someone better. And someone who doesn’t having a breathing dragon for a mother.”

He stared at her for a moment, and then his face went blank. Only the barest hint of anger escaped his black gaze, so shocked was he. “Who is he?” he asked simply, his voice an exercise in control. “What’s his name? Do I know him?”

Allie shook her head. “No, you don’t know him.” Because he doesn’t exist—yet. “I met him at the off-campus football game with Cornwall a few months ago,” she lied quickly.

“How?” he asked, scrutinizing her with an almost painful gaze. “How did it happen?”

She shrugged carelessly. Good. He was believing it. “I don’t know. It just happened. You were on the field, he was sitting next to me. Next thing I know we’re talking a-and something just clicked.” She added the slight stutter for good measure. Dear Lord it was all a lie. How corny could she get? Oh well, it was for his own good anyway.

She spared him a glance from beneath her eyelashes. What she saw there pierced her heart. He just looked so sad.

“So, all this time, for the past three months—you’ve been cheating on me?” he looked at her, a new kind of fury making his stare blacker than the night around them.

“I didn’t want to say it,” was all she said.

It was the only answer he needed.

“I understand,” he said, his voice so cold and politely civil. “I always thought my mother was wrong about you. That you couldn’t possibly be the good-for-nothing user she said you were. But I guess she was right.”

“Yeah, she was,” Allie said, her heart aching, emotion clawing at her throat. She fought to keep her voice steady. “You should have listened to her.”

And she walked away.