My Ex Crashed Into Reality

My mom eyed my car with disdain.

"What is this clunker you're driving? Did you see what they were in? A Porsche! Now that's impressive. A car like that must be worth hundreds of thousands!"

I forced a bitter smile.

My mom didn't know I was the one who paid for the Porsche.

If she found out, she'd probably have a heart attack.

As I drove, I didn't dare look at her, afraid the tears would finally spill over.

She lectured me the entire way.

I wasn't getting any younger, and she just hoped I'd find someone to settle down with.

When Carter and I first got together, I'd happily called her to share the news.

She immediately booked a flight to come meet her future son-in-law.

But he claimed he was busy that day, then had a business trip the next.

He refused to meet her, using every excuse in the book.

He even stopped answering my calls.

My mom stayed for two weeks and never once laid eyes on him.

She left in disappointment, even wondering if her eagerness had scared him off.

After that, she never mentioned visiting again.

Still, during holidays, she would always ask if I was bringing him home.

Every time, he firmly refused.

This went on until six months ago, when my mom finally lost her temper.

She demanded to know if I'd invented a boyfriend just to get her off my back.

Otherwise, why couldn't she meet him after four years?

Finally, she gave me an ultimatum: if she didn't meet this supposed boyfriend, I'd have to start going on dates with men she picked.

We had a massive fight over it.

I didn't speak to her for months.

That changed two months ago, when my father died in a car accident.

I begged Carter to come home with me, but once again, he vanished, brushing me off with a single text.

"My aunt broke her leg. I have to go take care of her, so I can't go with you."

The excuse was so pathetic I didn't even have the energy to argue. I went to my father's funeral alone.

It was a sudden, devastating loss.

Unsurprisingly, my mom was shattered by grief.

Seeing her so broken, I gathered my courage and asked her to fly out to see me as soon as possible.

I promised her she would meet Carter this time.

I thought if I just begged hard enough, if I could appeal to his sympathy, he would agree.

But he just looked at me coldly and refused flat out.

"Paige, I've told you, I'm not comfortable around elders. If you keep pushing, let's just break up."

He was always like this.

The second I went against his wishes, he'd threaten to leave.

And I would always panic, apologize, and cave to his unreasonable demands.

The 'loving relationship' I thought we had was just a house of cards I'd built for myself. He didn't love me. He couldn't even be bothered to pretend anymore.

It was time to wake up.

When we got back to the "creative studio" I rented for him, my mom's mood soured even more.

"Paige, even if you can't find a decent boyfriend, why are you living in such a dump?"

I smiled bitterly and said nothing.

This was the apartment Carter had rented.

I'd asked to move in with him since it was closer to my actual studio.

He was reluctant, only agreeing after I offered to pay his rent.

But when he came to help me move and saw my loft in the arts district, his eyes lit up.

He gushed about the location, the artistic vibe, how it would inspire his creativity.

Then, he tentatively asked if he could crash at my place when he was writing late.

I agreed without a second thought and immediately set his access permissions to "administrator" in the smart lock app.

Who knew he would end up practically moving in?

He rarely returned to his own rental.

After looking around the apartment, my mom stared at me with suspicion.

"Paige, I don't see a single sign a man lives here. I knew it. You've been lying to me all along."

Hearing her words, I looked around properly.

Only then did I realize Carter had moved all his things out at some point.

I guess I was so used to being here alone, I hadn't even noticed.

I gave my mom a flimsy excuse, told her to rest, and then grabbed my car keys and left.

As soon as I arrived at my loft, I saw the Porsche in my designated parking spot.

Carter was back.

Annoyed, I went upstairs. Standing at my own door, I opened the app on my phone, but the lock icon was grayed out.

My phone just flashed a 'Permission Denied' error.

I couldn't believe it.

I tried again and again, but I still couldn't open the door.

Left with no choice, I tried the backup passcode. That had been changed, too.

Frustration boiled into pure rage, and I started hammering on the door with my fists.

"I know you're in there, Carter! Get out here!"

I screamed until my throat was raw before the door finally creaked open.

Carter frowned at me, his eyes filled with the kind of look you give an enemy.

He lowered his voice, threatening, "Are you crazy, Paige? Do you have to make a scene? If you keep this up, we might as well—"

I couldn't help it; a cold laugh escaped my lips. "Might as well what? Break up? Is that your big threat? Fine! Get out here and clear this up, and we'll make a clean break right now!"

Carter probably never expected me to be so firm.

He stared at me, speechless.

Just as he was about to speak, a delicate voice came from behind him. "Who is it, Carter? Why did you just open our door?"

He stammered, flustered, "N-no one. Just a crazy fan. She thinks she still lives here."

Ignoring my fury, Carter pushed me away and warned, "Get lost! If you come back and bother us again, I'm calling security!"

I stood outside my own door, tears of humiliation finally falling for how pathetic I'd been.

I had worked day and night for this loft, and now I was locked out.

In his eyes, I was just a fool to be used and discarded.

It's terrifying how fast love can die.

I glanced at Sloane, the girl Carter was so desperately protecting, let out a chilling laugh, and pulled out my phone.

"Then let's call the police. I hope you haven't forgotten whose name is on the deed to this loft. We'll see who they arrest!"

Ignoring the panic blooming on Carter's face, I gritted my teeth and dialed 911.