Probably one or two more chapters left.

Thanks for sticking with me, by the way. This chapter is short, but extremely necessary.

Lisa and Rags are the best.

December 8th, 2011

"How could you do something like that?" I try to stay calm, but I'm too mad and irrational right now.

He looks up from his desk and rolls his eyes. "What did I do?"

"You cheated on her, you asshole," I spit, fighting the urge to kick him in the balls. "How could you do that?"

"Oh, that," he mumbles, looking out of the window.

"You promised you wouldn't do that. How could you be such an asshole?" I'm losing my shit. I'm definitely losing my shit.

He stands up and buries his hands in his pockets. "Look, I apologized. I shouldn't have done that to her, but she should have known we weren't exclusive."

"Damn right, you weren't exclusive. You were fucking someone behind her back!"

"What's it to you? I've always been like this," Jake scoffs.

"Yeah, but apparently you forgot that she's my friend. My best friend, for that matter."

He looks hurt, but right now that doesn't affect me in the slightest.

"Look, never mind. It was stupid of me to think you'd ever change. God," I mumble.

I storm out of the apartment without looking back. It's one thing to do it to someone else – and it's still pretty dishonest and wrong – but it's another thing to do it to Kate. And yes, she's not the best judge of character when it comes to guys, but I know she likes Jacob, and it feels like it's the first time that's ever happened.

So the one guy she likes cheats on her like it's nothing?

I grab my car keys and decide to go home and curl up on my sofa, while I pretend – in front of Kate, I should mention – that nothing's wrong and that I didn't know a long time ago that this was going to happen.

Dad calling

"Yes?"

I hear commotion in the background. "Bella? Hi, it's Dad."

"Hey. What's going on?" I ask, switching off the TV.

"Do you want to come over on Saturday? Sue is making your favorite," he says, and I'll bet he's all smiles from his tone.

"What?" I frown, looking at Kate, but she's too distracted reading a magazine.

"We'll explain it later. Be here by seven," he declares.

"All right."