CHAPTER 82: ONE MONTH

Hailee’s POV

His lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile. "If I get to be with other girls too."

The words hit me like a slap.

My entire body stiffened. The air seemed to vanish from my lungs.

"What?" I breathed, barely able to speak.

"You heard me," he said, voice low and hard. "If I have to watch you give your time, your kisses, your body to other men... then I’ll do the same. I’ll go out. I’ll be with other girls. And you won’t question it."

Pain lanced through me like a blade. I felt sick.

I imagined him with someone else—his hands on another girl’s body, his lips kissing her the way he kissed me. I pictured him laughing with her, touching her, holding her—and I couldn’t breathe.

"No," I whispered, shaking my head. "No, Nathan..."

He raised an eyebrow. "Why not? That’s what you’re asking from me, isn’t it? You want me to share you. Why can’t I do the same?"

"Because I—" My voice cracked. "I can’t take it."

I stepped closer to him, grabbing onto the hem of his shirt like it was the only thing keeping me standing.

"I can’t picture you with anyone else," I choked. "I don’t want anyone else touching you. I want you—just you."

He scoffed and looked down at me. "Then maybe you understand how I feel."

Tears burned down my cheeks. "Please... I’m sorry. I’m so sorry."

He didn’t move. Didn’t soften.

I pressed my forehead to his chest, holding on tighter, my body trembling. "Don’t do that. Don’t be with someone else. I don’t care what I said—I can’t share you. I don’t want to."

He let out a breath, but it wasn’t angry anymore. Just tired.

"You want me to give you everything," he whispered, "but you don’t want to give the same."

I shook my head. "I’ll give you everything... just don’t make me imagine losing you."

His hand finally moved to brush a strand of hair from my face. His touch was gentle... achingly gentle.

"You have already lost me, Hailee," he whispered, slowly pulling me away from his arms.

"Please leave, Hailee," Nathan said, his voice barely above a whisper.

I froze.

"I don’t want to see you right now," he added, eyes brimming with unshed tears. His jaw clenched, but the pain in his gaze broke me more than any harsh word ever could. "Just go."

His voice cracked.

My heart shattered.

I stepped forward anyway, closing the distance between us and throwing my arms around him as a sob tore out of me. I buried my face into his chest, holding him like if I let go, I’d never see him again.

"I’m sorry," I cried, my voice thick with pain. "Nathan, I’m sorry..."

He didn’t move. His arms didn’t come around me. But he didn’t push me away either.

"I never imagined this," I whispered, the words tumbling out through my sobs. "Never imagined that you—the boy I once thought I hated—would be the one I can’t breathe without."

I pulled back just enough to look up at him. My tears ran freely down my face, soaking my cheeks.

"All my life I’ve been strong," I said, my voice trembling. "I hate tears. I hate feeling weak. I’ve always told myself I could survive anything... but right now, I don’t even recognize myself."

He stared at me, his jaw clenched, his own tears spilling quietly on his cheek.

"In your presence... I’m not strong. I’m soft. I’m... breakable. And I don’t care," I whispered. "I just want you to hold me. To tell me it’s okay. To pamper me like I’m yours. Because I want to be yours so badly it hurts."

Nathan blinked hard, looking away—but I didn’t stop.

"Just give me a month," I begged, gripping his arm. "One month, Nathan. Let me sort this out... share me for just one month. And if by then I still can’t choose, you can walk away."

He didn’t speak.

"Please," I whispered, my voice shaking. "Just a month."

For a moment, he said nothing.

But I saw it—the look in his eyes. That flicker of refusal, of heartbreak. He was going to say no.

And that was it.

My dam broke.

A sob tore from my chest—loud, raw, gut-wrenching. I clutched his arm with trembling hands as tears streamed down my face. I was crying like I never had before. Crying like my heart was being ripped in half.

"Please," I choked through the sobs. "I’m sorry, Nathan. I don’t want to lose you. I don’t want this—any of this—if it means losing you."

My whole body shook as I broke down in front of him. There was no pride left in me, no strength. Just pain. And love. And the desperate fear of losing someone I couldn’t bear to lose.

Then suddenly—warmth.

Strong arms wrapped around me.

Nathan pulled me into his chest, crushing me against him as if I might vanish. His own body trembled, and I felt the damp heat of his tears against my shoulder.

"Stop crying," he whispered, his voice hoarse and broken. "Hailee... please, stop crying. I can’t—" He inhaled sharply. "I can’t stand your tears."

I clung to him, burying my face in his neck, soaking his skin with my cries. But he didn’t let go. His arms tightened around me, holding me like he never wanted to let go either.

"I hate seeing you like this," he whispered shakily. "It’s killing me..."

Nathan slowly pulled back, just enough to see my face. His fingers reached up, rough but gentle, and he began to wipe away my tears, his thumb brushing beneath my eyes with such care it made my chest ache.

"You cry like this," he murmured, "and I feel like the worst man alive."

I sniffled, my breath catching as I lifted my hands and wiped the tears that had traced down his cheeks too. His eyes fluttered shut at my touch, and when they opened again, they shimmered with pain... and love.

"You shouldn’t have to cry for me," he said softly.

"Then don’t make me lose you," I whispered.

There was a pause—a long, heavy silence filled with everything we couldn’t say. Then finally, his voice broke through it, rough and reluctant.

"I’ll give you a month," he said.

My heart thudded.

"A month," he repeated, firmer this time. "To figure yourself out. To share. To be with them if that’s what you think you need."

He looked deep into my eyes, his voice tightening. "But Hailee... after that, I need an answer. I need to know if I’m the one. Because I can’t keep living like this—loving you while you’re in the arms of someone else."

I nodded quickly, tears springing fresh to my eyes. "A month. I promise."

Nathan held me close again, resting his chin on the top of my head, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I breathed... really breathed.

Because I hadn’t lost him.

Not yet.