When Joey got home, she saw Hector in the living room, writing. He looked up at her and smiled. "Did you have a good time, dear?"
Joey nodded. "Yeah. It was great to see her. I met her boyfriend, Todd."
"That's nice. I'm glad you had fun."
Joey sat down by the canine. "Hector, I told Christy about us."
Mr. Peabody put down his papers. He had a concerned look on his face. "Oh? Why?"
"She's my best friend. It would have been hard to keep it from her."
"Josephine, I understand it's difficult, but we can't tell people about our relationship. Most people aren't open-minded. In fact, it could be dangerous to let others know."
"Then why even keep this going?! If we can't be open about our love, then why bother?! I can't tell anyone that I'm with the most wonderful being in the world! We can't hug or kiss or show any kind of romantic affection anywhere except here! I can't go on like this! It hurts, Hector! It hurts to keep this a secret!"
By the time she finished speaking, she was crying. Hector looked sad as he put his paws on her hands. "Sweetheart, I just don't want you to be in danger because of me. I love you more than anything in the world. Isn't it worth it?"
"I should have just let Christy find me a guy," Joey said, extremely upset. "She offered to hook me up with someone. And FYI, she wasn't angry when I told her you and I were together. Key word: WERE. I can't do this anymore. I can't be locked in a cage where I have to pretend I'm not with someone."
As Joey stormed out of the penthouse, Mr. Peabody ran after her. "Josephine, wait!"
"Go fuck yourself! We're through!"
"JOSEPHINE, DON'T LEAVE ME!"
Joey stopped in her tracks. She turned around and saw Hector crying, which he didn't do often. He was shaking. "Josephine, please don't go. I'd be devastated if you left me. I love you. I really do."
"I know you do, but I can't live like this." That was the last thing she said before she left.
Joey knocked on Christy's door. Christy answered. "Hi, Joey," she said, cheerfully. Her expression changed when she saw Joey starting to cry. "Come in. What's wrong?"
The girls went inside the apartment, and Joey immediately burst into tears and hugged her friend. She told her what had just happened a little while ago. Christy said, "I'm sorry, Joey. That really sucks."
"I don't know why I even agreed to be with him! Everything is ruined!"
"I'll ask Todd if you can stay here until you get a place. For now, let's order some pizza and rent a movie to get your mind off of it."
Joey nodded and waited while Christy ordered pizza and found a comedy to watch. Joey didn't pay much attention; she felt numb inside. All she could think about was Hector. She knew he truly loved her, but she couldn't spend the rest of her life pretending she was single. Well, now, she didn't have to pretend. She was single. She lost yet another lover. Even worse, she lost her father, the first being who ever truly cared about her. There was no way their relationship could be salvaged. It was in pieces. She was in pieces.
The night went on slowly. Joey couldn't focus on anything other than what just happened. When she wasn't crying, she was staring off into space, becoming more and more depressed. Up until that point, she wasn't sure if she felt the same way about Hector as he did about her. Now that they were no longer together, she felt a pain unlike any she had felt before. She didn't even feel this badly when she and Alessandro split up. She thought about all the good times she and Hector had together as a couple. Her heart ached, knowing that all of that was over.
Joey truly loved Hector. There was no more doubt in her mind that she did. She felt ashamed that she had not realized it sooner, but it didn't matter now. Nothing mattered now.
Todd came home later, and he said it was okay if Joey stayed. Joey told them that she was going to get some of her things from the penthouse. Christy and Todd offered to go with her, but she told them she'd rather go alone. Then, Joey left.