Free A Chosen Destiny (The Samantha Project Series #3) by Stephanie Karpinske

off after you found out about the software? But before that, you kept sleeping in the same bed with him every night and doing—whatever you two did? And that’s supposed to make me feel better?”
    Itdid sound bad. I tried to explain. “I was confused, Colin. And I was scared that we’d never get out of there. I shouldn’t have done anything with him. I know that. But part of me was acting that way because of that stupid software. It explains at least some of what happened.”
    “You want it to explain what happened! That way you don’t have to take any responsibility. Did you even hear yourself and all the excuses you used when you were telling me this?” Colin switched to a high-pitched voice. “The dancing, the fancy dinners, the clothes. I just couldn’t help myself. I had to have sex with Erik.”
    I tried to stay calm. “First of all, I don’t sound like that. And second, Erik and I did not have sex.”
    “Then tell me again, Sam. Why did you even believe their story and think you were pregnant?”
    “I told you. Erik and I were really out of it that night. This woman, Rachel, put something in our champagne. I only had a glass and a half and I was wiped out. And so was Erik.”
    “So you thought you might have somehow done it while you were sleeping? Yeah, like I’m gonna believe that, Sam.”
    “Okay. Fine. The reason I believed it was because—. You really want to hear this?”
    He waited for me to continue.
    “It was the morning after the gala. I don’t know how it happened. Neither of us does. But, well, Erik and I woke up in bed together. Without our clothes.”  
    Colin didn’t get angry, at least not outwardly, which was almost worse than if he had gotten angry. At least if he’d expressed anger, I’d know what he was thinking. I considered reading his mind, but I didn’t want to. It would be wrong. And I’d already done enough things that were wrong.
    “You need to leave now,” Colin said calmly.
    “But we didn’t do anything! Colin, you’ve gotta believe me!”
    “I don’t care anymore. It’s not my business. Do what you want with him.”
    I walked over to where Colin was sitting. “Please don’t be like this.”
    He stood up. “Like what? How do want me to act, Sam? Like nothing ever happened?”
    “I don’t know. Tell me what to do to make this better.”  
    “Just go. I want you to leave.”
    “I don’t understand. Can’t we even talk about this?”
    He remained quiet, refusing to answer.
    Tears streamed down my cheeks. “Then why did you even come to the procedure, Colin? I thought that meant something. I thought that—”
    “Because I care what happens to you, Sam. I always will. And being there with you—it was the right thing to do. But as for you and me? I’m done with this. Us. I’m tired of being the only one in this relationship with you just showing up whenever you feel like it. Pushing me away whenever I try to be there for you. And now—messing around with a guy you just met and blaming it on some software program. As if you had no choice. As if I wasn’t even a consideration.”
    “Please don’t do this, Colin. Please don’t end this. I can fix this. Just give me a chance.”
    “I gave you plenty of chances, Sam. I even forgave you for trying to ditch me in Minnesota on your way up here. If I’d only known then that you were just trying to be alone with Erik.”
    “That is not why I told you to stay in Minnesota. Don’t make up stuff that’s—”
    “I’m not going to waste time fighting about this, Sam. It’s not worth it.”
    We both stayed silent for a moment. My tears slowed.  
    “So now what? You’re just going to stop talking to me? We’ve been friends since we were kids. Are you giving up on our friendship, too?”
    The thought of ending our friendship seemed to take him by surprise. I don’t think he’d considered that yet.  
    “I think we should just act normal around people. We should act like we’re getting along.