What a disaster. Ronan’s so drunk. I'm shocked the suit isn't on backward.

The fake beard hangs off his jaw as he stands near the plastic throne decorated with fake ice. Ronan sways to the music, gyrating his hips in an unSantalike manner. Beside him, the pretty elf wearing a green cap plays along, laughing. He grabs her waist, and she slides a hand up his chest. He kisses her cheek through his scratchy beard. She smiles.

Frost runs through my veins, numbing the hurt. Pretending to not care takes more effort than I’m capable of. I promised Spencer to participate in the parade, but I can't face Ronan when he's like this. I'll only make matters worse by crying.

He bends over and twerks—an impressive physical feat considering how wasted he is, and that the float is moving.

God, this is sad.

I wish I could blame this on drinking, but he’s always been an inconsiderate ass. He swore he’d changed. He practically begged me for a chance, and what does he do the moment I give it?

Flirt with other girls.

Ruin the Santa Claus parade.

Act like a complete idiot.

This isn’t the man I fell for. I’m not sure that he even exists.

Ronan throws fistfuls of cash into the crowd. The bills wink through the air, catching rays of sunlight. People dive for the money. A violent scuffle breaks out. The men are quickly separated by police, who force everyone to step behind the barricades.

Disgusted, I turn my back on the parade. My stomach radiates with nausea. He conned me. I fell for it—fell for him. He had his hands all over that blonde. Yesterday, he told me he couldn’t wait to get me alone.

What a liar.

I fight the crowds and return to my car as a lump rises in my throat. My desire for the festivities evaporates. I had a whole evening with Ronan planned, but that’s out the window.

Why bother with him ever again?

I can’t trust someone who promises me one thing and does the complete opposite. He doesn’t take anything seriously, not this dumb parade that was mapped out months in advance and not our relationship.

Over as quick as it began.

My eyes well up as I slide into the driver’s seat. He hurt me. Again. And the worst part is I saw it coming. My mother warned me about Ronan. I should have listened, but my instincts screamed to give him a chance.

I was wrong.

Tears fall silently as I drive home, park, and sit in the fading warmth of the front seat, dreading the moment I’ll step inside. She’ll ask me what’s wrong. I won’t be able to hide my pain.

I look into the windows. Mom flits in and out of view, bustling in the kitchen.

Might as well rip off the Band-Aid.

I swing from the car, pulling the red hat off my head. I wish I could burn the damn thing. The Christmas wreath flies off the front door as I yank it open. I don’t bother to return it to its place.

"Hey, honey! You’re home early." Mom chimes from inside. "How was your date with Ronan?"

"Never went on a date." I drop the keys into the bowl and hang my coat. "He's an asshole."

"Uh oh. What happened?" Mom’s rapid footsteps approach. She stops in the foyer. "Did he do something?"

My composure crumbles. I choke out a sob. "He’s a jerk."

"Oh God." Mom hurries to my side, wrapping her arms around me. "I’m so sorry."

I shake my head, fighting tears. "By the time I got there, he was super drunk. He didn’t know I was there, but I watched him flirt with this other girl. It’s so stupid. I don’t know why I’m upset!"

"Sounds as if he was acting like an idiot."

"He was." I disengage from her and dive straight to the couch, slumping into the cushions. "It hurt to watch him do that more than when James broke up with me."

"That ass. I’m going to talk to Violet about how she’s raising her son—"

"Don’t! It’s not her fault, Mom."

"Well, you can't expect me to take this lying down. How many times has that idiot boy hurt you? Why can't he leave you alone?"

I shake with sobs, imagining Ronan and the girl laughing at my expense. "Maybe this whole thing was a joke."

Mom presses her lips into a thin line. "I wish I could say I was surprised."

"I-I thought he changed! You should have seen him at the resort. He was so sweet. So gentle. He made me feel special."

"Hon, it sounds like you dodged a bullet." Mom pats my back, sighing. "Are you sure this isn’t about James?"

"What does he have to do with anything?"

"He was your fiancé, and you haven’t said a word about him. I imagined you’d be sobbing all day."

"I never l-loved him, but Ronan and I—"

"He was always mean to you, honey."

It hurts hearing the truth. As a kid, I just wanted him to like me. I asked myself why so many times growing up, even in high school when I acted as though I didn’t care. He flirted with that woman knowing I’d be there. Ronan convinced me he’d changed so he could humiliate me all over again.

I fell for him. I dropped my guard and let him in.

Pain daggers my heart. "I feel so stupid, Mom."

"Don’t."

"Why? You were right. I shouldn't have gotten involved with Ronan."

She caresses my shoulder. "At least you found out now. I’m sorry, Gigi, but maybe it’s for the best."

She’s right. "I’ll probably get a text later from him, rubbing it in."

"Delete him from your phone, Gigi." Mom retrieves my purse and fishes out my cell. "Here."

It’s the sensible thing to do, but a horrible ache gnaws at my stomach. The devastation at losing Ronan is a thousand times worse than James. It’s as though all the air has vanished from the world.

I need to scream at Ronan. I want to call him a pathetic loser, but if I contact him he’ll laugh at my tears.

Fuck that. I won’t give him the satisfaction.

My finger hovers over his name. I select it and tap Delete. Our texts vanish, along with a message he sent me this morning.