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Chapter Twenty-Nine

Paxton

At Sea

I poured another shot of tequila and sighed as it burned down my throat Numbness, blessed numbness--that was all that I wanted I think that was ave up

There wasn’t enough alcohol to burn this pain away I’d once foolishly thought that the Rachel/Landon shit was the worst I’d ever feel But on the pain scale, that was a stubbed toe This was the deci heart

She had to believe me, didn’t she? She had to see how et Landon and Rachel back together She knew ht? Hadn’t I let her in? Let her see how ht, I’d put Landon’s happiness above my own, and that meant I’d put it above hers, too

Now that Rachel was here, was there a way to prove my love to Leah? To show her that she--and not the love life of my best friend--was my priority? I couldn’t even tell Landon that Rachel was here, not until she’dto fuck with his head just to have her tuck tail and run God, I only wanted everyone to have it all, for everyone to be happy

This isn’t a fucking sitcoht with Leah is about, or are you going tohimself a shot

"None of your business"

He threw the shot back and leaned against the bar, no doubt judging iene "You ready for finals toone to every class in preparation, sat next to Leah, unable to touch her and hating every single second of it She’d been polite but hadn’t even met my eyes Ironic, since that’s the relationship we should have had in the first place

I’d had my bones broken, joints ripped apart, hundreds of stitches throughmy heart

Fuck that I broke my own heart Maybe that’s why it hurt even more

"Okay, well this has been a nice talk Guess I should get some sleep," Landon said There was a knock at the door "Saved by the knock…or whatever"

I headed outside, bracing

"You look like shit," Brandon said, leaning against the rail next to me

"Thank you, Captain Obvious"

"I like your ship," he said, looking out over the water "I’ve been exploring duringme stay until Abu Dhabi"