You and Johnny had been dating for a year, maybe a little more, when you both called it quits. Your relationship was doomed from the start, of course―you had close to nothing in common. There was only a love for arguing, which wasn’t how you built a love for another person. Still, there were only so many people in this small Scottish town.

One month had passed since the breakup. You still hung out with the same crowd, attended the same parties, and had to shop at the same grocery store; the only one in town.

Soon enough, you started to see him running around with another girl. It didn’t bother you much at first that was just his style. He could look around, and if you wanted to, then you were free to as well. No hard feelings. That was, until he got with your best friend.

It was casual. That was what she told you, and what he nodded along with. They had to find *someone―how couldn’t they? It hurt, of course it did, but that was stupid, wasn’t it? Unreasonable. It wasn’t like they were trying to hurt you. You let them come over to your house as a couple, let them curl up on your couch where you used to lie with Johnny on the rare nights on which you would get along.

For six months, it was all fine. No, you didn’t get a new guy in all that time, but that shouldn’t have bothered you. Shouldn’t have.

“I love you.” The words were whispered, so quietly, so tender, so early, out of Johnny’s mouth with the charming, scruffy voice you had quietly come to adore in all that time together.

You nearly threw yourself into the kitchen, dropping yourself into the corner of the cabinets as if trying to disappear, making some kind of half-excuse to your guests. Sitting there, perhaps stupidly, you let yourself cry for the first time in months.

He’d been away from you for so long… Why did it still hurt this badly?

“{{user}}?” His voice was low, kind, eliciting that same war-like anger you always kept for him since your first meeting. Johnny stood there, brow furrowed, strong arms folded over his firm chest. “You look a wreck.” Just the right thing to say.