After her meeting ended, Elena decided to go see Dan. Deciding to call him first to know where he was, she dialed his line and waited till the call connected.
"Hey, Lena. What's up?" Dan asked the moment the call connected and Elena sighed. This was the second time she was doing this to Dan and she didn't like it.
However, as much as she didn't like that she was about to break off things with him again since he had promised no strings attached, she knew she had to. He was a good man and he deserved better.
"I'm good. We need to talk, Dan," she said and Dan frowned as he tried to guess what it was about.
The last time she told him they needed to talk was when she broke up with him so, was that what she wanted to do again? He mused.
"Oh, okay... What is this talk about? I hope everything is okay with you," he said, his concern evident in his voice.
"Yeah. Everything is fine. Where are you? I'd like to come meet you," Elena said and Dan's frown deepened.
Why did she want to see him for if not to be with him? He knew Elena. She wouldn't call him this way sounding so serious if it was sex she wanted.
"Don't worry, Lena. Just tell me where you are and I'll come meet you," Dan said but Elena knew better than to let him.
"Just tell me where you are. I already left the office," she said and after Dan had told her he was home, Elena took a cab and headed there.
A couple of minutes later, she stood outside Dan's apartment, feeling nervous and unsure as she raised her hand to ring the doorbell but dropped it.
She had been putting off this conversation for too long, but she knew it was necessary. Dan was a good man and she couldn't keep leading him on knowing fully well her heart would never be his.
Like Fiona said, Dan was fragile. He had been in love with her for the longest and that love couldn't just magically fade away so being with him without any form of commitment
She took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Dan who had just arrived home a while ago, answered with a warm smile, which made her feel even more guilty. "Hey, beautiful. Come on in."
Elena forced a smile and stepped inside, her eyes scanning the familiar surroundings. They had shared so many memories in this apartment both from when they were dating and after he approached her two weeks ago. But now, it felt like a reminder of what she was leaving behind.
"Have your seat and I'll get you something to drink...."
"Dan, we need to talk," she cut in, her voice tinged with a hint of urgency.
Dan looked at her curiously, but his expression quickly turned serious.
"What's going on, Elena?"
They sat down on the couch, and Elena took another deep breath before explaining. "I've been thinking..." Dan looked at her, his heartbeat doubling as he already knew where the conversation was headed.
"Don't tell me you want to end whatever is left of us... this relationship. Whatever this is called?" Dan said, unable to wait to hear the words.
Elena gazed at him, her eyes filled with guilt. "I'm sorry but I have to. We can't continue this way," She said and Dan shook his head.
"Why not? I wanted a real relationship because I loved you but then, you insisted you couldn't love me and would rather break up even when I said I'd wait. And now, when I resolved to just being with you without expecting any commitment you still think it can't work? Why? Why, Lena? Why do you keep doing this to me?" Dan asked, standing up to go take Elena's hands but she flinched away.
Elena looked at him and she could see the hurt in his eyes. Fiona was right. Dan loved her and being sexually involved with Dan wouldn't be good to him. He needed space from her. To break free of whatever infatuation of her he had in his head.
Elena stood up, looking into his face and cupping his face with her hands. "I can't let you waste away your life with me when I know I can't love you. I know you still love and agreeing to be sexually involved with you isn't a good choice. You need someone more deserving of you, Dan. I don't and I feel bad that I'm tying you down," Elena said and Dan's face fell, but he quickly recovered.
He wasn't going to try to persuade her or be pathetic like he looked the last time she broke up with him.
He placed his hands over hers, taking them off her face. "I understand and it's fine. We should stop seeing each other," he said, his voice calm.
Elena was taken aback by his calm response, oblivious to the turmoil inside of him. "Are you sure you're okay with this? I don't want to have to feel bad I imposed this on you like I did the last time," Elena said, her voice, tinged with uncertainty.
He nodded, his eyes avoiding hers. "Yeah, I'm fine. We had some great times, I know and although I also know it wasn't meant to last, I had hoped it wouldn't end so quickly," he said and Elena forced a smile, a stark contrast to what she was feeling inside.
Elena felt a pang of guilt, but also a sense of relief. As much as she was feeling sorry she was ending things this way, she was glad he had taken it well. "Thank you, Dan. That means a lot to me."
As they hugged goodbye, Dan's grip lingered a little longer than necessary. Elena didn't notice, but Dan's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched her leave. He wasn't ready to let her go and he wasn't going to let her move on from him either.
She was the only one he loved and he would do anything to keep her by his side. He didn't need her to love him. As long as she was by his side. Dan thought with a smirk.
As Elena stepped outside, a fresh sense of relief washed over her. She hadn't realized she was holding her breath until the cool air hit her face, and she exhaled deeply, feeling lightweight. Like a heavy weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
It was finally over. Dan had finally let her go. She felt a pang of hope for him as she wished he would find someone better, someone who was willing and open to loving him fully.