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Chapter Twenty-Four

I didn't care that I was wearing Edward's t-shirt. I didn't care that I was wearing his boxers. Okay. I didn't really care, but when I ran to my car and realized what I was wearing, I figured Riley might care. Just a little.

Running back upstairs to Edward's apartment, I grabbed my clothes from the bathroom floor and threw them back on.

Alice didn't answer her phone. Edward didn't answer his phone.

So, I drove to Riley's work. I knew it was a bad decision, but I had no other choice. This was going to end. It needed to end.

"Ms. Swan! How are you? We haven't seen you in a while," Irina, Riley's assistant said. She was always so sweet to me.

"Hi. Uh, is Riley here?"

Irina suddenly looked concerned. "Yes. He just got back not too long ago."

"Thanks. I'm just gonna..." I pointed towards his office and waved her goodbye.

Not bothering to knock, I swung the door open almost hoping to find someone under his desk. Or on top of his desk. Or, just, to find him cheating. It wouldn't make this easier, but it would just make me feel a little less awful about all of this.

Scratch that last thought. I was here because he punched Edward. I was through feeling awful.

"What the fuck, Ri?" I whisper-yelled, wanting so badly to slam the door. The soft click didn't really help with the entrance I was going for.

"Oh! Hi, Bella," Riley said, looking up from his desk to reveal a swollen lip and the beginning stages of a black eye.

I know it's wrong, but I felt relieved. Edward fought back.

"Don't hi me. Why'd you do it, huh? Did punching Edward make you feel like a man? You're so disgusting! This is why we could never work!" Riley stared, waiting for my rant to end. Not a chance. "Your temper is out of control, yet you never act like that when it comes to me!"

Riley rose from his desk, yelling with each step he took. "That was over you, Bella! I was doing what you wanted, I was fighting for you! Jesus fucking Christ!"

My jaw dropped, just a little. "That's not what I meant. I didn't want you to hurt Edward."

I realized that maybe I never wanted Riley to fight for me after all. I realized that maybe I had hoped he would be so upset with me that he wouldn't want me anymore. I realized that maybe I was wrong. About all of this.

I edged closer to him, examining his lip. "So, you punched him," I said with a sigh.

"Well, I couldn't punch you," he said, still fuming.

"I can't believe you thought that I wanted you to literally fight." I would have laughed if Edward weren't involved.

"What was I supposed to think? That's what you said!"

"No," I said softly. "I just wanted to know that you cared. That's all."

"I think you know I fucking care. You've been hanging out with some old crush who has been giving you all sorts of attention lately. I can see why you're confused. Little radio guy has all the time in the world to give you attention while I'm at work trying to pay for your shit," Riley sneered.

"I didn't just want attention," I defended. "And I don't care about the things you have to offer me anymore. All I needed was to know that you loved me and I didn't get that feeling."

Riley threw his hands in the air and said, "What are you talking about? I put a ring on your finger!"

"You never made me feel good enough for you."

Riley narrowed his good eye, maybe finally understanding where all of this stemmed from. "You know that's not true."

"Oh, but it is," I laughed darkly.

"I loved you, Bella. I was going to fucking marry you."

"Yeah? But you didn't love me. You loved the version of me that I created."

"I don't even..."

"I eat frozen pizza and I actually like it. I curse way too much and sometimes smoke cigarettes. You hate all of those things, so I gave them up without hesitation, for you. So you'd love me, and you did. You loved me. But it's not right anymore."

I did so well with holding in the tears until I finished speaking. Knowing Riley, he would mistake the tears for my feeling regret. There was no regret. There never would be.

"You're giving up everything we have for frozen pizza and cigarettes?" Riley asked, looking absolutely livid.

I wanted to smile at what frozen pizza and cigarettes stood for. Edward and my happiness.

"Yes."

Riley laughed. Knocked over a lamp that was sitting on his desk. Attempted to punch a hole in the wall, without luck. I knew he'd make Irina clean all of it up. But I couldn't stop him.

"I'm leaving. I'm sorry it happened like this, but I'm leaving. I'll figure out a way to get all of my things. And don't fucking touch Edward again."

My last words to Riley shouldn't have been about Edward, but it only seemed right. This whole thing was because of Edward.

He saved me.

A/N: Well...this thing is coming to an end! Thanks for reading!