Theo laughed at the accusation, but I could see the lie lingering behind his eyes. "Just wanted to spook you a bit, baby. No harm intended."
But I knew better than to believe him. Theo always lied - about where he'd been, who he was running with, what trouble he'd gotten himself into this time. The more he lied, the more insecure I became, doubting everything in the relationship, but he came and made even more fake explanations. But I stayed regardless until he broke things off with me.
"Theo, just leave me alone, okay? We're over," I told him firmly, turning to walk ahead. But he kept following like a lost puppy.
"C'mon Izzy, I just want to talk," he pleaded, the words ringing hollow.
I knew exactly what was coming - the same apology routine Kat had warned me about countless times before. He'd say how sorry he was, spin some new tale about how he messed up, beg me to take him back. But I was done wasting my time on empty promises and meaningless words.
"Save it, Theo. I'm not doing this again," I shot back over my shoulder, hastening my pace. But his footsteps echoed close behind, persistently trailing me.
Then suddenly his hand was on my arm, gripping urgently as he whirled me around to face him. His eyes were wild, almost manic, as he pulled me into a fierce hug.
"Isabella, I'm so sorry, baby. I never should've left you like that. I was being selfish, stupid, I won't do it again I swear," he rambled, hot breath tickling my neck.
Part of me was tempted to just sink into his embrace, to let his words weave their familiar siren song that had lulled me into complacency so many times before. But then I remembered - the blonde in his Instagr*m story, sloppy kisses, and wandering hands, that caption "#loveofmylife".
I shoved him away with surprising force. "You're unbelievable, you know that? Save the lies for someone who still buys your bullshit."
His brow furrowed in transparent confusion, those stupid puppy dog eyes that had reeled me in so many times antes. "What're you talking about, Izzy? I swear, I'm telling the truth this time!"
I laughed bitterly at that. "Oh yeah? Then why'd you block my number after you dumped me, huh? I called you like ten times trying to figure out what the hell happened!"
Theo's mouth worked soundlessly as I hit him with the truth he couldn't wiggle out of. Finally, he mumbled, "I...I don't know, I wasn't thinking straight, baby. I'm so sorry."
"Uh huh. So that "#loveofmylife" caption on your Instagr*m with you tongue-deep in some blonde's mouth, that was you 'not thinking straight' too?" I shot back, making air-quotes around the sickly caption.
"What? No way, you got it all wrong!"
"Don't even start, Theo. I saw it with my own eyes - you macking on some sorority girl while I was home crying my eyes out, wondering what I did wrong this time."
He hung his head. "That...that was just Maddison from my Ethics class. She's the one who posted that stupid caption as a joke, I swear!"
I scoffed loudly. "A joke? You're kidding me right? Just like how it was a 'joke' when you yelled at me for using your phone to call Kat? Or how about all those times you got 'caught up at work' when really you were out doing God knows what?"
The truth was, I'd noticed how secretive and sketchy he'd been for months, putting up with his unexplained absences and flimsy excuses because some sad, deluded part of me still wanted to believe his bullshit.
I turned and kept walking briskly toward my apartment complex, hoping he'd take the hint and leave me alone for once. But of course, Theo just had to keep stalking me.
"Izzy, wait! Jason's the one who took me to that club that night. Maddison was just looking for a fling to get back at her ex, so she came onto me. I was drunk, I didn't know what I was doing!"
I refused to turn around and look at his pathetic, pleading face.
"No, baby, I swear I never slept with Maddison!" he insisted frantically. "You're the only one I love, Isabella. I was being so selfish and I should've understood your situation better instead of being such a jerk."
Some small, sad part of me liked how persistent and desperate he was being, still clinging to those dwindling hopes that he could somehow convince me. But the stronger, rational voice told me to keep walking for my own peace of mind.
Theo kept following behind me, rambling excuses and apologies as I stormed ahead to the elevator. I jabbed the call button angrily.
"Don't make me call the cops for harassment," I warned as the elevator dinged its arrival.
Theo looked stricken, holding up his hands placatingly as I stepped onto the elevator car. "No, Izzy, c'mon! Just give me five minutes to explain, that's all I'm asking!"
The doors started sliding closed, but at the last second Theo barged his way onto the elevator, crowding me against the wall as the car rattled upwards.
"Isabella, please just listen to me..."
But I just turned my face away, squeezing my eyes shut as I tuned out his meaningless words. My head was pounding, my heart racing with anger, fear, and a sickening sense of defeat. I needed to shut it all out, to just make it through this one last torment before I could escape to the relative safety of my crappy apartment.
When the elevator dinged open on my floor, I shoved past Theo without a word, walking stiffly down the hall as he trailed after me, still trying to get through.
I didn't stop or look back until I had my apartment door in sight. But to my horror, as I approached it, I could see it was slightly ajar - I must have forgotten to lock it when I left earlier.
"See? This is why you need me in your life, Izzy," Theo chided from behind me, mistaking my panic for simple absentmindedness. "You're just too careless without me around to take care of you."
I whirled on him, fear and anger boiling over. "Shut up and get the hell away from me!"
I reached a trembling hand out and slowly pushed open the apartment door. My heart dropped as I was greeted by the imposing figure lounging on my tattered couch.
I could only gape at him, frozen in shock and fear as he rose to his towering height, sleeves straining against bulging muscles.
"Well, babydoll," he purred in his thick accent, leveling me with a predatory stare. "You didn't think I'd just let you off the hook just yet, did you?"