𝐏𝐈𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐄𝐃 // 𝐇.𝐒.

12.

Breathe.

"Jo, i-it's not what-"

I turn on my heels, needing to get out of here quickly. I'm panting as I reach for my keys on the hook and then the doorknob.

A shirtless Matthew follows me out into the hall. "Jo, baby! Wait, let me-"

When he grabs me by the wrist tightly, I turn to him. An uncontrollable rage fills me, a flush of color is certainly painted on my cheeks again. I take my hand, smacking him red across his face.

I didn't want to act in aggression by laying a hand on him, but I blame his rough grab that inflicted the fight in me.

"Don't!" I snap, taking my wrist back from his grasp as I leave him shocked. I can't stop myself from shoving at his chest. "You're such a fucking hypocrite! A liar and a fucking cheater!"

"Jo," he says my name again, but his voice breaks. "I didn't mean to-"

"Didn't mean to what?! Fuck my-" I groan because I don't have time for this. I throw wild hands up into the air. "Go back in there, Matthew. Really. Finish a girl for once in your damn life!"

I don't care if my neighbors heard me through the echoing apartment halls. I'm rapidly walking away from my cheating boyfriend—ex-boyfriend— and my hands are shaking. I don't think I've ever yelled that loud at somebody before in my life.

I'm too numb to fucking cry about what I just walked in on.

Backstabbing motherfuckers.

I make it down the staircase without tripping. I'm so engulfed in fucking anger, my body isn't used to it. I'm trembling, but I just want to keep on screaming.

Harry. His car is still parked in front of my apartment. I don't question it, because I'm far more relieved than worried about his reasons for not going anywhere.

I reach for the handle of his car door, but it's locked. Losing patience, I knock on his glass windows several times and peek inside. He needs to let me in, now.

Did the asshole jump in his seat?

When he unlocks his door, I open it and plop right into the passenger's seat again.

"D'Amore, what the fuck?!" He shouts at me, but this time I'm the one completely unfazed by it.

I look over to find him drop his phone onto his lap. Maybe he was on the phone. Through my panting, I say, "Drive."

He furrows his eyebrows together. "Do I look like a fucking Uber-"

"Harry, dammit, get me the fuck out of here!" Maybe a taste in his own damn rudeness will get him to realize I'm not fucking around. Still, in a softer tone, I add, "Please."

He seems hesitant, but Harry ends up reaching for the stick shift. "Alright, fuck..."

He drives and I let myself sigh in pure relief. I rest my head back against the leather and close my eyes. I'm almost positive my blood pressure is through the damn roof right now. I'm still so fucking angry.

"So," Harry speaks up as he's driving through the city again. "Are you going to fucking tell me why your ass is back in my car? What the fuck happened?"

I don't want to tell him. I have a feeling Harry will only laugh in my face and find everything about my current situation knee-slapping hilarious. I open my eyes again when the look on Matthew's face, lifting his head from having his mouth on her, wouldn't stop replaying in my head.

"I-" I begin because maybe I need to admit it. "I just walked in on my best friend and my boyfriend..." It's all I say.

Silence. For a minute, I think it's going to stay that way. Harry isn't going to say a word or laugh in my face like I thought he would.