Chapter 23

Matthew didn't fight back. He let the blood flow from the corner of his mouth and wiped it away. Then, he looked at Jasmine with pleading eyes. "I was wrong, Jas. Please forgive me! If you're still angry, hit me. Please, just hit me!" She looked at them both and suddenly felt it was all absurd. Seven years ago, they had fought over her like this, too, except then it was about who could spend her birthday with her. Now, it was about who could earn her forgiveness. "That's enough." She turned and walked toward Sebastian, hearing Matthew's suppressed sobs behind her. The sound was like a wounded animal, reminding her of their junior year when he'd won his first supporting actor award. He had buried his head in her neck, crying that after all those years of struggle, he'd finally made it. He said that without her, he wouldn't have achieved everything he had then. "Jas..." Matthew's voice came in broken fragments. "I'd rather you hit me, curse at me... Anything but this..." Jasmi