Aww Seven Exes Begged Cute Blocked novel Chapter 36

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**A Promise Written on the Rusted Edge of Time by Dael Rowan Sire**
**Chapter 36**

The night had grown deep, its shadows stretching across the room like the lingering tendrils of unresolved emotions. Bryce appeared at my door, a bag of lesserts in hand, the sweet aroma wafting through the air.

“Eat up. I don’t have much time,” he said, his voice a mix of urgency and casualness that only irritated me further.

“Just wanted to let you know—cancel your flight,” I replied, my tone firm, hoping to convey the finality of my words.

“Winter break’s too short to go home anyway. We’ll just chill here,” he countered, as if the very idea of staying together was a simple solution to our tangled mess.

When silence enveloped us, he finally lifted his gaze, concern etched across his brow.

“What’s wrong with you now?” he asked, a hint of annoyance creeping into his voice.

“Bryce, we already broke up. Stop coming around,” I stated, trying to sound resolute, but my heart felt heavy with the weight of our history.

“Yeah, yeah. Broke up…” he scoffed, rolling his eyes as he began to extract colorful macarons from the bag, their delicate shells glistening under the dim light.

“Are you really going to make me do this every time, huh?” he continued, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth, as if this was just a game to him.

“Just cancel the flight, alright? I’m not playing. Don’t blow up my phone later asking why I’m not on it,” I insisted, my voice rising slightly, betraying the frustration bubbling within me.

He reached out, an offering of a macaron poised between us, but I recoiled as if he had burned me with his touch.

“You haven’t seen me in weeks. A whole week without me? You’d lose it,” he teased, but I saw the desperation lurking behind his bravado.

“I said we’re done. I don’t care if you stay here with her for winter break or for the rest of the semester. Understand?” I shot back, my heart racing as I stood my ground.

For a moment, his smirk faltered, the bravado slipping away to reveal confusion.

“What did I even do?” he asked, his voice dropping to a low, irritated tone. “You know you can’t function without me. Why are you like this?”

Something inside me snapped, a surge of anger and clarity washing over me.

“You’re staying for River. Don’t lie to me,” I said, my voice trembling yet unwavering, my gaze locked onto his. “You think I’m stupid? I saw everything. Your little urgent care date. Your all-nighter.”

“I don’t care who you sleep with, Bryce. But don’t you dare come here pretending it’s for me!” I spat, my words sharp and loaded with the pain of betrayal.

He looked deflated, exhaling heavily as he tossed the macarons onto the ground, the colorful treats splattering like the remnants of our relationship.

“Fine, yeah. I’m staying for River,” he admitted, his voice tinged with defeat.

“But if your best friend was lying in a hospital bed alone, wouldn’t you stay too?” he challenged, his eyes searching mine for understanding.

“If I hadn’t been so busy dealing with your drama, she wouldn’t have gone out and wrecked her bike. So yeah—this is on me,” I snapped back, my heart pounding with the weight of the truth.