Minutes later, as Archie walked down the long hallway toward Avery's room, his footsteps were slow, hesitant, like he was carrying more weight than just his own. The polished floors reflected the dim lighting above, but he barely noticed. His thoughts were louder than his shoes hitting marble, louder than the blood pulsing in his ears.
He didn't know what he was going to do once he got there.
What was left to say?
It had been confirmed. She used him.
All of it, last night's confessions, the soft touches, the desperate way she clung to him, none of it had been real. Not the 'I love you, not Brian.'
Not the trembling words about breaking up with Brian. Not the way she'd looked at him like she'd finally seen him, the version of himself he only ever showed to her.
It had been a lie.
All of it.
