ACCIDENTALLY YOURS

LENA’S POV The Smell of garlic and butter filled my tiny apartment kitchen while Soft music Played quietly from my phone Speaker. I Smiled to myself as I stirred the Pasta sauce Carefully. Ryan loved Creamy Pasta. Well… loved was Probably an understatement. The man Practically inhaled it every Single time I made it. My gaze flickered toward the small chocolate Cake sitting inside the fridge. A tiny laugh escaped me. It looked terrible. The icing was uneven, one Side slightly Collapsed, and the writing on top looked like a Child had done it. Happy Three Years anniversary, Ryan. Still, I’d Spent almost two hours making it after I got back from work. Because Ryan mattered to me. Because despite everything lately… I still loved him. My Phone buzzed against the Counter. It was Ryan… A Smile instantly Spread across my face. I wiped my hands quickly before Picking up. Me: “Hi, baby.” His voice Came through distracted. Ryan: “Hey.” My Smile faded Slightly. Me: “You Sound tired.” Ryan: “Long day.” Me: “Oh.” I tucked a Strand of hair behind my ear. “Well… I was thinking maybe I could Come over tonight.” A pause. Ryan: “You don’t have to.” Me: “I want to.” Another Pause… Something inside me tightened. Ryan had been distant lately. Not rude exactly. Just… impatient and Cold sometimes. And every time we argued, it Somehow Circled back to one thing. Sex… Me: “You’re still upset?” I asked Softly. Ryan: “No.” But he Sounded like he was. I sighed quietly. Me: “Ryan—” Ryan: “Lena.” His tone Sharpened slightly. “I said I’m not upset.” Silence Stretched between us. I stared down at the Pasta slowly bubbling on the Stove. Me: “I just…” I Swallowed hard. “I thought you understood why I wanted to wait.” Ryan: “I do understand.” Me: “You don’t Sound like you do.” Another long Silence. Then he exhaled harshly…. Ryan: “We’ve been together for three years, Lena.” There it was again… Me: “I know.” Ryan: “Three years.” Me: “I know,” I whispered again. Ryan: “I’m a man, Lena.” My fingers Curled around the edge of the Counter… M: “And I’m not Saying you aren’t,” I replied carefully. “I just… I’m not ready yet.” Ryan: “You’re never ready.” Me: “That’s not fair.” Ryan laughed bitterly. “No, what’s not fair is feeling like I’m dating a nun.” The words hit harder than they Should have. I went Silent. And he sighed immediately. Ryan: “Forget it.” Me: “No, Ryan—” Ryan: “I Said forget it.” Tears burned behind my eyes instantly. I hated when we fought… Me: “I made dinner,” I said quietly. “And Cake.” Another pause. Then finally he talked. “You made Cake?” A tiny Smile returned to my lips despite everything. Me: “Yeah.” His tone Softened just a little. Ryan: “I’m sorry. I’m just Stressed.” Me: “It’s okay.” Ryan: “You Coming over now?” Relief flooded through me. Me: “Yeah.” Ryan: “Okay. Door’s unlocked.” The line disconnected… I stood there Staring at my Phone for several seconds. Something Still felt wrong. But maybe I was overthinking again. Maybe relationships were hard Sometimes. Maybe love required Patience… I looked at the Small Cake again and forced myself to smile. Tonight would fix everything. It had to. Thirty minutes later, I Stood outside Ryan’s apartment carrying the cake box Carefully in one hand and the food bag in the other… Rain drizzled Softly around me. The hallway was quiet. I adjusted my jacket and Smiled nervously before Pushing the door open. “Ryan?” No answer. I Stepped inside slowly. The apartment lights were dim….. My brows furrowed… “Ryan?” Then I heard a Soft breathy sound…. A female laugh. My entire body froze. My heartbeat instantly began Pounding violently against my ribs. Another Sound followed…. A moan. My Stomach dropped so fast I nearly lost balance. The food bag Slipped slightly in my trembling fingers. Please no…. Please. I moved toward the bedroom Slowly. Each Step felt unreal…. Like my body had disconnected from my brain. The bedroom door was half open. And then I Saw them. Ryan on the bed Completely naked and a woman beneath him. Their bodies tangled together… His mouth on her neck as he f****d the hell out of her. “Ouuuch, yes baby, don't stop, I like that.” The b***h Continued moaning and my head became hot instantly. The Cake box slipped from my hands. The Sound made both of them jerk violently. Ryan turned and our eyes met… Everything inside me Shattered. “Lena—” He called. I couldn’t breathe. The girl gasped and Pulled the blanket over herself. Ryan Scrambled off the bed immediately. “Baby listen—” “Don’t.” My voice Cracked horribly…. Tears blurred my vision instantly. I Stared at him like I didn’t know him anymore. Like the man Standing in front of me was a complete Stranger. Three years. Three whole years. “You’re Cheating on me,” I whispered. Ryan dragged a hand through his hair angrily. “It’s not what it looks like.” I laughed. A broken, Shaking laugh. “But you’re naked! And a b***h is right on your bed!” “Lena—” “You were literally inside another woman and she was moaning Shamelessly under you!” The girl grabbed her Clothes awkwardly and hurried Past me without Saying a word… I barely noticed her leave. My eyes Stayed locked on Ryan. “You embarrassed me enough,” he snapped Suddenly. I blinked. “What?” Ryan Pointed toward the door. “What did you expect, Lena?” The words hit me like a Slap. “What?” “You keep rejecting me over and over.” Tears Spilled down my cheeks. “So you Cheated and you've been cheating on me since?” “I’m a man!” “And I’m your girlfriend!” “You act like s*x is some evil thing!” “It’s not evil!” I said. “Then why do you treat me like some Criminal every time I touch you?” My Chest hurt so badly it felt impossible to Stand. “I loved you.” Ryan scoffed. “You loved the idea of me.” I Stared at him in disbelief. “You know what?” he Continued bitterly. “I got tired of begging my own girlfriend for intimacy.” “You didn’t have to beg,” I cried. “You just had to wait!” “For how long?” His words echoed through the room. “How long, Lena?” There was a deafening Silence… Because I didn’t know. And maybe he Saw the answer in my face. Ryan laughed Coldly. “Exactly.” That was the moment Something inside me broke completely. I nodded Slowly through tears. “Okay.” His expression shifted Slightly. “What?” “Okay,” I repeated shakily. “You win and I hope she was worth it.” Then I turned and walked away before he Could see the Sob that escaped my throat. “Lena!” I ignored him. “Lena Come back!” I kept walking faster until I burst out into the rain. Cold water hit my Skin immediately. But it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered. People Passed around me on the sidewalk while I cried openly. My Chest hurt so much I genuinely thought I might Collapse. Three years. Three years of loyalty. Three years of love. Three years of waiting because I believed love meant more than s*x. And in the end? It still wasn’t enough. My Phone buzzed repeatedly. It was Ryan Calling. He called again and again and again. I declined every call. Then blocked him Completely. Fresh tears blurred my vision. “i***t,” I whispered to myself brokenly. “You Stupid idiot.” A loud laugh Suddenly echoed nearby. Music blasted from across the Street. I looked up Slowly. And I saw a nightclub in front of me. Bright neon lights flashed against the rainy darkness… Drunk and Carefree People entered laughing. I stared at the glowing sign through tears. I had never Stepped into a club before. Never even wanted to but right now? I didn’t want to think. Didn’t want to remember Ryan touching another woman while I stood there holding a Stupid anniversary Cake… My Phone rang again. This time it was June, my childhood friend. I answered weakly. “Hello?” “Girl where are you?” June asked immediately. “You Sound weird.” I Swallowed hard. “I’m fine.” “You are absolutely not fine.” That almost made me Cry harder. “I caught Ryan Cheating.” “HE WHAT?!” People turned to Stare at me from the sidewalk. I Closed my eyes tiredly. “June—” “I WILL KILL HIM.” Despite everything, a tiny laugh escaped me through tears. “I’m Serious!” she snapped. “Send me his location right now.” “It doesn’t matter anymore.” “Lena—” “I just…” My voice cracked. “I don’t want to go home yet.” June immediately Softened. “Where are you right now?” I looked back at the flashing club lights. “I don’t know.” “Lena—” “I’ll Call you later.” “Wait—” But I ended the Call before she could Stop me. Then Slowly I turned toward the nightclub entrance. The music vibrated through the rain. My heart Pounded painfully. Fear, Sadness, anger and humiliation Crashed inside me at once. And before I Could change my mind I walked inside.