Chapter Twelve

SOLANA

The moment we step inside, I turn to face him, my chest tight with everything I held back at that party.

Tyler shuts the door behind him, already shrugging off his jacket like nothing happened. Like I'm not seething inside.

I don't even let him take another step.

"Why did you laugh?"

He pauses, glancing at me. "What?"

I cross my arms, forcing my voice to stay steady. "Why did you laugh when they were making those disgusting comments about me?"

Tyler blinks, then exhales, shaking his head like I just said something ridiculous. "Solana, it wasn't that deep."

I scoff. "Not that deep?" My voice rises, anger bubbling to the surface.

"They were objectifying me, Tyler. Right in front of you. And you just sat there like it was some kind of joke!"

Tyler exhales. "Solana, I'm tired. So just drop it."

No." My voice is firm. "I'm not dropping it. I felt humiliated tonight. They were making disgusting comments about me right in front of you, and you laughed, Tyler."

He whirls around, eyes flashing. "They were joking."

I shake my head. "No. They weren't. You just don't care enough to see it."

His nostrils flare. "You're making it seem like I let them fucking grope you or some shit-"

"Oh my gosh, do you even hear yourself?" I throw my hands in the air. "You don't think letting them talk about me like that isn't bad enough?"

He scoffs, rubbing his hands over his face. "You're being so fucking dramatic, Solana."

I step closer, my heart pounding. "No. I'm done letting you make me feel like I'm crazy for expecting basic respect." My voice wavers, but I don't back down.

"What do you want me to say, Solana? Huh?" He throws his arms out. "That I should've punched them all in the face? Started some huge fight over a couple of harmless comments?"

"They weren't harmless! They were disgusting, Tyler. And you let them say it. You let them look at me like that-like I was nothing." My voice drops to a whisper. "Like I wasn't even yours."

His expression twists, something unreadable flickering across his face. But it's gone in a second, replaced by simmering frustration.

"You're blowing this out of proportion." He shakes his head. "You're always blowing shit out of proportion."

I let out a shaky breath. "No, Tyler. I'm just finally calling you out on it."

He scoffs. "Oh, so now I'm the bad guy?"

I stare at him. "If the shoe fits."

"Wow. After everything I've done for you, given you and this is how you decide to repay me? By starting an argument over nothing?" He says, his jaw tight.

"I just want you to try to understand how I'm feeling."

He scoffs but stays silent.

"Tyler.... do you even love me?"

"What kind of question is that?" He asks, looking at me like I just asked something very absurd.

"Just answer the damn question. "

"Of course I do."

I shake my head and his jaw clenches.

"You say you love me, but-do you even know what that means?"

His whole body tenses.

I push forward. "Because love means standing up for the person you claim to care about. Love means making them feel safe-not letting them be the punchline of some sick joke." My voice cracks. "Love is supposed to feel good, Tyler. And this-you-don't."

His expression darkens. "Are you saying I don't fucking love you?"

I stare at him, my chest rising and falling.

He sighs when I don't answer. "You're so fucking dramatic-"

"No, Tyler. I'm not being dramatic."

"I honestly don't see a problem here."

"That's because you're the problem." The words pour out, unfiltered, unstoppable. "You gaslight me, you manipulate me, and when I try to stand up for myself, you make me feel like I'm crazy. Like I should be grateful to have you." I let out a bitter laugh. "You don't love me, Tyler. You love controlling me."

"Shut up." His voice is sharp, cutting.

I shake my head, my eyes burning. "No. I won't."

"Shut up, Solana." His hands curl into fists.

"No." My breath is uneven, my pulse hammering in my ears. "You don't love me, and deep down, you know it."

His entire body tenses. His jaw clenches so tightly I swear I hear his teeth grind together.

And then it happens.

The crack of his palm against my face is deafening.

The impact sends me stumbling, my vision blurring for a second. My cheek burns, a sharp sting spreading across my skin.

I don't move.

I don't breathe.

Tyler stares at me, his chest rising and falling like he can't believe what he just did.

Then his expression shifts-cold and calculating.

"See what you made me do?" His voice is eerily calm now. "You just had to keep pushing."

A tear slips down my cheek, but I refuse to look away.

I refuse to break.

Tyler exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair before grabbing his car keys off the counter. "I'm going out. Don't wait up for me."

He turns and storms out, slamming the door behind him.

The silence that follows is suffocating.

I lift a shaky hand to my burning cheek, my breath uneven.

He hit me.

Tyler hit me.

And worse-he blamed me for it.

Something inside me cracks.

Something I don't think can ever be put back together again.

I sink to the floor, my whole body trembling, my breath coming in sharp, ragged gasps. The burning in my cheek spreads through my entire face, but it's nothing compared to the ache in my chest.

A strangled sob escapes before I can stop it.

Then another.

And another.

I curl in on myself, arms wrapped around my stomach like I can hold myself together, but I can't. I can't stop shaking, can't stop the tears from falling, can't stop the way my mind replays it over and over again.

The look in his eyes. The sound of his hand meeting my skin. The way he blamed me.

A part of me knew it would come to this.

A part of me saw the way he changed, saw the way his love turned into something dark and suffocating.

And yet, I stayed.

I stayed because I wanted to believe in the boy I fell in love with. The one who used to look at me like I was his whole world.

But that boy is gone.

He's been gone for a long time.

And now, I don't know who I am without him.

The realization makes me sob harder, my fingers digging into my arms as I rock back and forth, trying to ground myself, trying to breathe.

But all I can hear is his voice.

"See what you made me do?"

My stomach twists violently.

He didn't even apologize.

He just left.

Like I was nothing.

Like he hadn't just shattered something inside me that I don't know if I can ever fix.

I squeeze my eyes shut, gripping my arms tighter, as if I can hold all the broken pieces together.

~~~~~~

After what feels like forever, the sobs slow, leaving me hollow and exhausted. My body feels too heavy, like I've been drained of everything-tears, energy, hope.

I force myself to move, even though every part of me wants to stay curled up on the cold floor. My limbs are shaky as I push myself up, wiping at my damp face with trembling fingers.

The mirror near my closet catches my reflection, and I flinch. My eyes are red and swollen, my cheeks blotchy. But it's the mark on my face-the faint imprint of his hand-that makes my stomach turn.

I look away.

Moving on autopilot, I grab the softest pair of sweatpants I own and an oversized hoodie. My hands shake as I pull off the dress I'd worn for him and let it crumple onto the floor.

I don't care.

I slip into the warm fabric, letting the comfort swallow me, but it doesn't erase the cold that's settled deep in my bones.

Without thinking, I climb into bed, pulling the covers over me like a shield.

I don't check my phone. I don't do anything except curl into myself, staring blankly at the wall.

The bed feels too big. Too empty.

But it won't be for long cause he'll come back eventually.

~~~~~~~

The sound of the front door opening jolts me awake.

I blink against the dim glow of my bedside lamp, my body stiff and sore from crying myself to sleep. For a moment, I think I imagined it, but then I hear footsteps-slow, hesitant-moving through the apartment.

Tyler's home.

My stomach knots as the door to our bedroom creaks open.

I don't move. I keep my back turned, staring at the wall, pretending I'm still asleep. Maybe if I don't acknowledge him, he'll leave me alone.

But he doesn't.

I hear a quiet sigh before the bed dips behind me. Warm fingers brush against my arm, gentle-so gentle-like he didn't just-

I flinch.

Tyler tenses, his hand freezing before slowly retreating.

"Solana," he whispers, his voice raw, hesitant. "Baby, please wake up."

I don't respond.

Another sigh, and then I feel the warmth of his body as he shifts closer. He smells like whiskey and cold night air, like he spent hours driving around before deciding to come back.

"Solana." His voice cracks this time. "I'm sorry."

I swallow hard, my throat thick.

"I swear, I didn't mean to..." He trails off, and I can feel the frustration in him, the war between guilt and pride.

"You just-you were pushing me, and I lost my temper. But I didn't-I wouldn't-" His breath shudders. "I love you, baby. I love you so much."

I close my eyes.

I should get up. Say something. Tell him what he did was unforgivable.

But I can't move.

Not when his voice turns softer, pleading.

"Please don't shut me out," he murmurs, pressing his forehead against my shoulder. "I hate myself for what I did. You know I'd never hurt you on purpose."

His fingers slide over my arm again, coaxing.

"I'm so sorry, baby. Please, just say something. Yell at me, cry-anything. Just don't ignore me."

I stay silent, my breath uneven.

He exhales shakily, and I can feel the desperation in him now, the way he's clinging to me like I'm slipping through his fingers.

"I'll make it up to you," he promises. "Anything you want. I'll be better, I swear." His lips press against my shoulder, featherlight. "Just tell me you forgive me, baby. Please."

A tear slips down my cheek.

I don't know what's worse-the fact that he's apologizing or the fact that some broken, desperate part of me wants to believe him.

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