I hold Addison’s blanket around my waist while rushing down the stairs toward the basement. As much as I’d love to give all of them a show of my cock, I don’t have the time for their bullshit. I have to get out of here before I do something I know I’ll regret … like punching Leonard in his face. He’d have me arrested in seconds.

I call a cab and start throwing all of my belongings in my duffel bag. I drop the blanket and am getting dressed when Addison comes running into the bedroom.

Her eyes are swollen. Her cheeks are tear stained. She’s in her robe, and her hair is a mess. “What are you doing?” Her attention goes from me to the bag. “Where are you going?”

I zip my bag, throw it over my shoulder, and move around her. “It’s over, Addison. Our little fun time is done. I did what I told you I would. You got what you wanted. I made you experienced and taught you what men like in bed. Mission accomplished. It was a pleasure working with you, and it’s now time for us to move on.”

I can hear her behind me, sobs mixed with begging pleas for me not to do this. I glance over my shoulder and see her trying to keep up with me.

“Stop fucking following me,” I demand.

She has to let me walk out of here. I can’t face her. I can’t see the pain on her face that I know I caused. Of course, she doesn’t listen. She follows me, bare feet and all, outside and straight to the corner while I wait for the cab.

“Please stay,” she begs.

I run a hand over my face, so she doesn’t see my pain. I have to keep my emotions in check. She can’t know walking away from her is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. She’s better than me. I’ve known that all along, but hearing her mom say it and seeing the look of disgust on her face reminded me. This would never last. Addison will eventually realize it was better for us to end it this way.

“I can’t,” I answer.

Her fingernails dig into my skin when she grabs my arm. “Stay. We can get our own place. We won’t ever have to see them again.”

I shake my head. “It’s not that easy.” She’s young, naïve, and living in a fantasy if she thinks that’d fix this problem.

“I’m falling in love with you!” she yells.

I still, and it kills me when I finally look at her. Really look at her. Tears are falling down her cheeks, and her lower lip is quivering. My blood runs cold. My entire body goes rigid. Seeing her cry is killing me. But I have to do what’s best for us.

“We agreed this was only temporary, remember?” This isn’t only a reminder for her, it’s for myself as well.

“You know that’s not true. You know what we have has never been temporary.”

I pull her hand off me. She grabs for it again, but I’m faster than her. “It was fun while it lasted. My goal was to make you a better lay and to fuck a stuck-up princess. That’s what I did.”

“Don’t say that,” she sobs. “Don’t you dare lie to me! You know you want more just as much as I do!”

“Shit, you’re going to school to be a fucking doctor. I’m a now unemployed tattoo artist. My future will never be what you’re looking for. I’ll never be an Ivy League graduate and become some doctor or lawyer. I’ll never give you the life you’re used to. I’m white trash, and I’ll always be white trash.”

I shut my eyes, my tongue hurting from saying that to her, and she manages to grab my arm again. She attempts to pull me back to the house.

“Please don’t, don’t do this,” I yell, my nostrils flaring. I gesture between the two of us. “We are not in a relationship. We are not in love with each other. We’re only fucking, remember? I’m getting you ready for the love of your life, and princess, that’s not fucking me.” I’m lying out of my goddamn teeth, and I feel like a jackass. “This was us getting our socks off. That’s it. You’ll be off to school in a few months, and I’ll be back in California. Our little summer fling will be long forgotten.” My voice is cold. Harsh. She doesn’t deserve this.

“I’ll come there. I’ll move to California. We can be together.”

I shake my head, cutting off her wild imagination. “It’s over.”

I light brush my lips to the top of her head and walk away when the cab pulls up. She trails behind me and yells my name. The pain is clear in her voice. I’m breaking her heart, but it’s better now than in six months when more feelings have formed.

“Don’t do this,” she begs. “Don’t listen to them.”

I throw my stuff in the backseat of the cab. I can’t help but look at her one last time. She’s standing on the sidewalk, shivering in her robe, and looking like I just ripped her heart out and am taking it with me.

I’m leaving mine with her.

I give the driver directions, and we pull away.

It’s over. I’m leaving like a coward, but I know the truth. I’d be wasting my time to think we’d ever be anything other than temporary fuck buddies.

She’ll find the perfect man when she leaves for school, and I’ll be long forgotten. It’s stupid to think it would be any different.

We come from two different words that were never supposed to collide.