From “Clingy” to Gone My Independence Was His Biggest Regret novel Chapter 58

Chapter 6

“Come on, Jake, you got the girl and you’re still drinking alone? But seriously, you and Victoria are practically engaged–how is Sage taking this so well? She’s not causing any drama?”

“Ha! Like she has any right to show her face around here! After being dragged through the mud like that, she should be hiding under a rock somewhere.”

“Jake, real talk–if you’re really done with Sage, think I could take her for a spin?”

“Dude, have some self–respect! You want Jake’s sloppy seconds?”

Hearing this, the guys all started howling with laughter..

Fuck off!” Jake slammed his beer bottle down so hard it shattered, glass flying everywhere.

The bar went dead silent.

ake stormed out, his combat boots crunching over the broken glass, irritation clawing at his chest for no reason he could name.

When he finally snapped out of it, he was parked outside their old place.

He hadn’t been back since Sage moved out.

The rose garden she used to tend was completely dead now–withered and pathetic–looking.

Only after some of the tightness in his chest eased did he head inside and turn on the shower, letting the cold water run down his face.

That’s when his eyes locked onto something on the bathroom counter.

He picked up the pregnancy test showing two pink lines, remembering how Sage had looked that day outside the women’s clinic.

Something exploded in his brain.

hock. Confusion. Regret…

ake suddenly remembered how resolute she’d been signing that withdrawal agreement. How defiant she’d been when her father was screaming at her. How inal it felt when she deleted his number.

ll those emotions crashed together into something that felt like pure joy, threatening to burst out of his chest.

ake bolted from the bathroom and grabbed his phone, dialing that familiar number.

ven he didn’t notice that his hands were trembling slightly beyond his control, and there was a smile tugging at the corners of his eyes and brows.

ntil the automated message came through the receiver like a bucket of cold water from heaven, extinguishing most of the joy that had just ignited within him.

age had blocked his number?

hinking this, Jake’s jaw tightened as he opened their text thread and quickly typed: [Where are you?]

he moment he hit send, a red exclamation point appeared with a message delivery failure notice.

lis frown deepened.

le’d never seen sage throw this kind of tantrum before. She was always so understanding around him, so accommodating. Sometimes almost desperate to

lease.

he wouldn’t cry to him like Victoria did, nor would she act coquettish around him.

ind he’d gotten so used to Sage’s quiet acceptance, her silence, her constant giving.

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From “Cling” to Gone. My Independence Was His Biogast Regret

Chapter 6

It was weird seeing her actually fight back for once.

Miss Always Put Together was giving him the silent treatment.

Fine. He’d swallow his pride this time. Even the strongest women were still women at the end of the day.

Jake opened his door, only to find Victoria standing there.

Before he could say anything, she let out a bitter laugh:

Not coming home tonight? But here to reminisce about your ex?”

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