"Lili," Brendan says, sucking in a deep breath, "this is Kate, my ex-girlfriend that moved to Florida last year. I guess she's moving back."

I look her up and down. She's a pretty girl with dark brown hair and gorgeous blue eyes. By the looks of her casual outfit, she looks good in anything. So this is the famous ex-girlfriend that he never really forgot about but had to let her move...

"And Kate, this-"

"I'm Lili," I say, looking at Brendan. "The other ex-girlfriend."

Brendan's jaw tightens at my words and he slowly lets out a breath. I can see his eyes questioning me. I look back at Kate.

She purses her lips, summing me up as well. She doesn't seem impressed with what she finds. Probably since I'm wearing sweats and my hair's a mess on the top of my head.

"Brendan," Kate says. An unnaturally friendly voice. I can already tell I don't like her. "Are we going to that place you were telling me about?"

"Hang on, Kate," he says, still watching me with a confused look on his face.

"Brendan," she says again. "I thought it was just going to be the two of us... So we could talk about things?"

I would really like to slap her in the face. Instead, I clench the hem of my T shirt with such a hard grip that my knuckles turn white. I suck in deep breaths of air, counting to ten in my head multiple times, waiting for his reply to come.

"Why don't you go home for a while, Kate?" Brendan asks, still looking at me. "I bet your mom needs help unpacking."

"She's actually-"

"Kate."

She lets out a sigh, then picks up her jacket before walking past him. When she reaches where I stand, she glares at me. Then she shoves me out of the way to get to the door.

I avoid Brendan's gaze after the door shuts. I know he's looking at me, waiting for an explanation. I don't want to look at him.

"What did you mean?" He asks.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I lie, still not looking up.

"You said you're my ex. Is that what you want?"

I hesitate, hands still clenched into the end of my shirt. I don't know how to answer that. It was natural. When I told Kate that I was his ex-girlfriend. It came out without thought. Is that what I think of myself as?

"Is that all you want to be? My ex? After everything we've been through?" He asks me.

I don't respond again. I know what Drew told me. That we've had so much together. We're happier together. And it's true. What's holding me back?

"Will you look at me, Lili?" He asks.

I do. And it's a mistake because I'm stuck where I am. He takes a step closer to me.

"At least tell me why you're breaking up with me before you do," Brendan says, a hurt look in his eyes.

"I don't... I don't want to break up with you," I say. I hesitate. "Yet."

"What are you waiting on? For me to prove myself to you? Because I have nothing left to give, Lili," he says, looking concerned. "Please, tell me what we are. I can't hang here in the middle forever."

I stop, his harsh tone drilling into my skull. He's right. It isn't fair for me to keep him waiting like this.

"If this isn't enough... If I'm not enough for you, please just tell me. I can't stand letting myself love you so much if it's never going to be returned," he says, stepping again closer.

"I just... I don't know..." I say, shaking my head, eyes locked on his.

And he's only inches away from me. He's careful at first, wrapping his arm around my waist. Then he presses his lips to mine. It feels as though it's been forever since we've kissed. He pulls away, only slightly, eyes locked on mine.

"If you're going to leave me," he says, "I need you to tell me honestly that you'll be happy. And then I'll leave."

I hesitate, closing my eyes.

"I need you to answer one question," I say.

"What is it?" Brendan asks, and I feel his warm breath on my cheeks.

"If I were to break up with you, would you go straight back to Kate? Or any other girl?" I ask quietly.

I open my eyes and he's looking at me with what's either curiosity or confusion.

"Answer honestly," I tell him.

"No," he says after a moment. "Not for a while, at least."

"A while? How long is a while, exactly?" I ask him, eyebrows raised.

"I don't know, Lili..."

"Because with you, a while could be the next day," I say.

"Are you accusing me of being a player?" He asks, leaning away a few inches.

"No," I say immediately. "No, I'm just unsure. Of my own feelings. Of yours."

"I love you, Lili," he says. "I don't say that to many people."

"But you've said it to Kate, I'm sure," I say.

"What's your big deal with Kate?" He dodges the comment.

"Answer me, Brendan."

"Yes," he sighs. "I did tell her. But it's been almost a year."

"But you never really stopped loving her did you?" I ask him.

He hesitates. "Not for a long time. When she moved, I thought I'd never date another girl. That was until I met you, though."

"She's pretty." I don't know why I say it. I feel like I should point it out, though he already knows it.

"What's up with you?" He asks.

"What's up with me?" I raise my eyebrows.

"You're all self conscious all of a sudden. Kate isn't a threat."

"Last time I heard that from someone, they ended up cheating on me with that pretty someone. If you don't recall. How can you blame me for being cautious?" I ask him.

"I can't," he says. "But I can blame you for not trusting me."

"Not trusting you? Me, not trusting you? You, who held a grudge against me for weeks without even hearing what I had to say about the truth?" I ask, anger fuming inside me.

He steps back, running a hand through his hair. "I thought we talked about this."

"We did," I say. "And it doesn't change the fact that you don't trust me."

"I do trust you," he says, turning around. "I made a mistake."

"You did. A pretty big one."

"Gosh, I didn't know you were so freaking perfect."

"I never said that," I defend.

"Then why can't you forgive me?" He asks, letting his arms fall to his side.

"I don't believe that you won't do something like that again."

"What can I possibly say to make you believe me?" He asks, obviously frustrated.

"There's nothing more you can say," I sigh. "I just need time-"

"How much time do you need?" He asks, voice rising now. "Because I've waited almost an entire month to hear an answer from you."

"I'm sorry," I say. "But I can't help it."

"Well figure it out, Lili, because I can't wait forever," Brendan says, in almost a yell.

"You could wait forever if you really loved me," I retort.

"Did you really just say that to me?" He asks, eyebrows raised.

"I did, because it's true."

"No, it's childish, Lili!" Brendan shouts, shaking his head.

"So is taking back your old girlfriend," I yell back.

"I told you, it isn't like that!" He yells.

"How can I possibly know you aren't lying?"

"You can't." He says. "And you obviously don't trust me enough to take my word for it."

"You're right, maybe I don't trust you," I say calmly.

He stares at me, taking deep breaths.

"I don't need anymore time to think, Brendan," I say. "We're through."