All Chapters of Kicked Into Water, I Learned to Leave: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

I stood outside my door, holding the breakfast I'd just bought, staring at Celine Harper. She looked like she'd come a long way to get here.She smirked. "Living the good life, huh? Can't even be bothered to come home."Home? The place that could throw me out like I was nothing? That wasn't home.Celine had told me more than once that I had no right to act like I owned the place under her roof. But when had I ever done that? Every single time, I had been the one groveling for her forgiveness.But not this time. Never again.When Celine saw that I wasn't falling over myself to apologize and that I simply walked right past her instead, she froze for a solid three seconds. Then she grabbed my wrist, her face full of disbelief."You're really holding a grudge over that?" she snapped.Just because Tristan Whitfield wanted to know how long I could hold my breath, she had kicked me straight into the pool. If someone there hadn't known CPR, I might not have made it. And she boiled all o

Chapter 2

I slept the entire flight and didn't look at her once.When we got off the plane, Tristan was waiting at the exit. He rushed forward and pulled Celine into his arms like they were a couple reuniting after a long separation.Celine had never cared what I thought before, but this time she pushed Tristan away immediately and shot a quick glance in my direction. When she saw that my expression hadn't changed at all, something flickered across hers that could have been disappointment or relief.Tristan didn't like being brushed off. He reached over and nudged her playfully. "Sophia and the others are throwing a party. Let's go. If we're late, they'll make us drink."We walked out together. Tristan clicked his tongue and sighed. "It's raining today, and I left the umbrella in the car. What was I thinking?"Celine reached over and ran her fingers through his hair, about to comfort him. Then she spotted the umbrella I'd already opened and snatched it right out of my hand."You're always

Chapter 3

I froze for a second. She was home already?That was strange. Whenever we fought, she'd stay out for at least seven or eight hours, sometimes days in a row, and wouldn't come back until I'd broken down and apologized.Then she'd waltz back in, all smug, and say, "Next time you think about picking a fight with me, take a good look in the mirror first."I was in the middle of gaming with my buddy Felix Greer and didn't feel like dealing with her, so I kept it short. "I'm at a friend's place. What's up?"Celine fired right back. "Which friend? Guy or girl? Do I know them?"She distracted me just long enough for me to lose the match, and I swore under my breath.Celine's voice came through the phone, stunned. "Who taught you to talk like that? Get home. Now."I didn't bother responding and hung up.After we finished gaming, Felix took me out to a bar everyone had been talking about. In the five years I'd been with Celine, there was a long list of things I wasn't allowed to do.I w

Chapter 4

Celine could keep her self-righteous devotion. I didn't want any part of it.After I finished up at the office, I walked out the front door and found Celine waiting for me. My boss must have tipped her off.I kept my eyes straight ahead and started walking the other way, but I heard her footsteps closing in behind me."Are you done with this little tantrum?"She grabbed me before I could react, pulling me back several steps. Once I steadied myself, I looked at her calmly. "We already broke up. Is there something you need?"Celine stared at me for a few seconds, then bit her lip, unwilling to let it go. "Since when? My mom's birthday is today, and she keeps asking about you. Will you please just come?"I used to always show up early for her parents' birthdays. I'd cook, prepare stew, order the cake, and have the whole place spotless before anyone arrived.Then Tristan would stroll in late like he owned the place and pick apart every dish I'd made. By the time I actually sat down

Chapter 5

"The wedding photos look great. When's the wedding? If it's soon enough, I might even be able to make it."My expression remained completely calm, my tone as relaxed as if I were making small talk with an old friend over coffee.Celine's knife and fork clattered onto her plate. She shot to her feet, looking almost terrified. "What are you talking about? When did I ever say I was marrying Tristan?"Emily picked up on the tension and jumped in. "That was all Tristan's idea. He insisted on doing it. He's an immature brat. Don't take it so seriously, Gavin."Compared to how flustered they both were, I was perfectly calm. I even smiled."I'm not taking it seriously, Mrs. Harper. Celine and I already broke up. I came today to see you, and after this, I won't be coming around anymore. Thank you for everything over the years."The truth was, she hadn't taken care of me nearly as much as I'd taken care of her. Emily had diabetes, so every weekend I came over and made sure she got her exer

Chapter 6

"Come home, Gavin. You can't stay here forever."I shook my head. "That's not my home. We're not married."Celine clearly misread what I meant, because she jumped in immediately. "We can go to the courthouse tomorrow. We were planning to get married this year anyway. What's a few months early?"I almost laughed. Since when had the brilliant, top-of-her-class Celine Harper become this bad at reading between the lines?The sweat sticking my clothes to my skin was driving me crazy. I tugged at my shirt. "Stop coming to find me. I already told you, we're done."A flicker of humiliation crossed Celine's face. She opened her mouth, but before she could get a word out, footsteps came pounding up the stairs."Gavin! You forgot your ball!"Zoe bounded up the steps, all bright eyes and easy smiles. I took the ball and smiled back. "Thanks, Zoe. Want to come in for some water before you go?"Celine, standing right there being ignored, looked furious. Her sharp side came out before she cou

Chapter 7

One time, Tristan had come over to our place for dinner. Halfway through, he'd decided he didn't want to finish his food. He looked at Celine with those puppy-dog eyes and pushed his plate toward her."It's a waste to throw food away. Celine, be a sweetheart and finish it for me?"Celine had laughed at that. She gave him a look and shook her head, but she still scraped his food onto her own plate.Something inside me snapped. I couldn't stop shaking, and before I knew it, I was on my feet demanding an explanation. "Why won't you ever eat off my plate? Not even one bite? He's allowed to share with you, but I'm not?"Celine looked at me like it was almost funny, as if it wasn't even worth taking seriously. She exchanged a glance with Tristan, and the two of them doubled over laughing.I stood there like a fool while they laughed at me for half an hour. Even now, I still didn't know what was so funny."I was laughing at how petty you are."When I finally asked her about it later,

Chapter 8

Once we had our technique down, Felix and I set up a little stand in the main square downtown. Zoe was incredibly helpful. She spread the word in her class group chats and her entire year's social media, so on day one, Felix and I were swamped.Everything we made was clean and delicious, and since we were just starting out, we gave all new customers a 20 percent discount. Most days, we'd have college girls texting us before we'd even opened, asking when we were setting up. Felix and I were riding high on our success.One weekend afternoon, I'd just finished making a wrap for the girl in front of me. When I looked up, Tristan and Celine were standing there.Tristan was grinning ear to ear, looking absolutely delighted. "This is what you've been reduced to, Gavin? Selling street food? Honestly, I can't say it looks that great either."Celine's expression was cold. She stared down at me like she was above all of it, poking at the condiments on my table. "This is what your life looks

Chapter 9

All of it flashed through my mind, one image after another, until my stomach turned.But then, like a balloon that had been punctured, the tension just left my body. None of it mattered anymore. I had a new life and new friends, and there was no point dwelling on the past.Celine couldn't stand my indifference. She suddenly lost it, screaming at me like she'd gone mad."Say something! Why won't you say anything? You've been holding all of this against me, haven't you? Why won't you just let it out? Is the silent treatment really what you want to do?"I looked at her coldly and said nothing.Tristan was visibly shaken by the state she was in. He walked over, frowning, and tried to calm her down. "Celine, what's gotten into you? Let's just go. Forget this—"Celine had been listening quietly at first, but something snapped. She whipped around and slapped him across the face."You idiot! Get away from me! I told you to talk Gavin into coming back, and instead you went and posted all

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